Kylian Mbappe loses two China sponsorship deals after Mao joke
French footballer Kylian Mbappe lost partnerships with Dongpeng and Mengniu in China on Tuesday following comments about former leader Mao Zedong.
Brands terminate cooperation immediately
Energy drink company Dongpeng ended its partnership with the Real Madrid forward effective Tuesday. Dairy producer Mengniu also cut ties with the French international after a video surfaced online. Both companies stated they have zero tolerance for actions that hurt Chinese national sentiments.
Video shows controversial meme comment
The controversy began when Mbappe shared a clip of his face photoshopped onto an image of a Chinese dictator. He described the edited picture as the funniest internet meme he had seen recently. The brands cited this specific remark as the reason for ending their commercial relationships.
Mao jokes remain a taboo
Making light of Mao Zedong is considered disrespectful in China and remains a social taboo. Mengniu noted that any words or actions hurting Chinese people feelings are strictly opposed by the firm. Dongpeng added that it firmly opposes behaviour that offends national sentiments within its operations.
All 3 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- France 24
- The Guardian
- Dawn
Reported by
3 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.