Chinese Brands Cut Ties With Mbappé Over 'Chinese Dictator' Remark
· Sports · The Independent, Sportstar, Sky News
French soccer star Kylian Mbappé has lost endorsement deals with at least three Chinese companies after he appeared to refer to Mao Zedong as a "Chinese dictator" in a video clip. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground announced the termination of their agreements, citing opposition to "any words and actions that hurt national sentiment." Social media platform RedNote also stated its content partnership with Mbappé ended and it would remove promotional materials. The comments led to widespread criticism on Chinese social media, with hashtags boycotting Mbappé trending on Weibo.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the significant financial risks for international celebrities whose remarks are perceived as offensive in China. It demonstrates the swift and severe commercial repercussions that can arise from comments touching on sensitive political figures or national sentiment in the Chinese market.
Read the original report — The Independent
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