Chinese Brands Cut Ties With Kylian Mbappé Over Mao Joke
Eastroc Beverage Group and China Mengniu Dairy Co. terminated partnerships with Kylian Mbappé after a video surfaced of him appearing to joke about Mao Zedong.
Two major Chinese consumer brands, Eastroc Beverage Group and China Mengniu Dairy Co., terminated their partnerships with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé on October 27, 2026. The companies cut ties after a video circulated showing the Real Madrid forward apparently joking about Mao Zedong, specifically referencing a meme of the leader's face photoshopped onto a Chinese dictator.
Both companies cited a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that offends national sentiments or hurts the feelings of the Chinese people. The backlash gained momentum on Weibo and through the football outlet Dongqiudi, occurring shortly after Mbappé lost the Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane. However, AFP Fact Check noted that the authenticity of the video could not be immediately verified.
Mbappé had previously discussed memes depicting him as historical strongmen during a September interview with L'Equipe. At that time, he stated that while some people view such comparisons as fun, he finds them less funny because of the damage those individuals caused throughout history.
