# Chinese firms end Mbappé sponsorships over remarks about Mao

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/kylian-mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offending-national-sentiments/
- Published: 2026-10-27T07:27:08+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-27T07:33:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/27/kylian-mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offensive-mao-jokes
- Topics: Asia, Business, Celebrity, Entertainment, Europe, Football, Sport, World

## Key points

- Two Chinese brands ended their deals with Mbappé.
- The video appeared to refer to a Mao meme.
- Its authenticity had not been verified.

## Summary

Kylian Mbappé has lost sponsorship deals with two major Chinese companies after a video circulated in which he appeared to refer to Mao Zedong as a dictator. The companies said his comments offended Chinese people; jokes about Mao, China’s founding leader, are considered taboo.

Dongpeng Beverage and dairy producer Mengniu announced they were ending cooperation with the France captain immediately. The video’s authenticity had not been verified, and it appeared to refer to an online meme placing Mbappé’s face on Mao’s image. Mbappé had previously said that comparisons with historical figures responsible for mass suffering were not funny.

## Coverage

- [The Guardian: Chinese firms end Mbappé sponsorships over remarks about Mao](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/27/kylian-mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offensive-mao-jokes)
- [BBC World: Major Chinese brands drop Mbappé as backlash grows over Mao joke](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv62yg0erp8zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.