Several Chinese brands have dropped Kylian Mbappé over alleged comments about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The Mbappé Mao joke backlash flared on Chinese social media on Monday night and has grown since. The Real Madrid forward reportedly told the French talk show The Bridge that the meme that makes him laugh most shows a man he thinks is a Chinese dictator, with Mbappé’s face placed on an image resembling Mao.
The joke plays on his nickname, “the dictator,” given for his huge influence in football. In the unverified clips circulating online, he doesn’t name Mao and says he uses the meme with friends all the time. Chinese football forum Dongqiudi called the comments inappropriate and hurtful, and said it was unable to translate them. Dairy producer Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng each said they have zero tolerance for words or actions that offend Chinese people’s feelings. Neither statement mentioned the video. Chinese media also reported that CCTV will keep Mbappé off its news apps and stop showing La Liga matches. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said such words and deeds will be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.
Much of the Mbappé Mao joke backlash rests on clips nobody has verified. The original video isn’t on the show’s YouTube channel, and it’s unclear when it aired. That leaves people in China guessing, with some users blurring the meme while others ask what he actually said. Mao is revered by the Communist Party and online speech is tightly controlled, which may explain why Chinese brands moved so fast against a star with big endorsements there. A few people have backed Mbappé, but they are rare. If the CCTV decision is confirmed, it reaches the whole league, not just Real Madrid.
The BBC says it has asked Mbappé and Real Madrid for comment, and no reply is reported yet. Watch whether more sponsors follow, whether the original clip surfaces, and how the club responds. The Mbappé Mao joke backlash will turn on what he actually said.
