Chinese Brands Cut Ties With Mbappe Over Mao Remarks

Three major Chinese companies severed commercial ties with French soccer star Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after remarks about Mao Zedong sparked public outrage in China. Dongpeng Beverage, Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy and Milkground announced the decisions following the circulation of an interview clip that prompted accusations that Mbappe had insulted the country.

The backlash also prompted La Liga, Spain's top soccer league, to distance itself from the comments and issue an apology. Mbappe subsequently apologized to people offended by his remarks, acknowledging that his comment had been poorly judged.

The companies released similarly worded statements early Tuesday announcing the termination of their relationships with Mbappe. None explicitly identified the remarks behind the decisions, which followed the widespread circulation of a clip from a spring interview with the French online talk show The Bridge.

In the interview, Mbappe was asked to identify his favorite meme. Online users have frequently portrayed the Real Madrid forward as an authoritarian figure in jokes about his prominence in soccer and public life, including memes comparing him with historical dictators.

Mbappe responded by describing a video featuring a man he believed was a Chinese dictator. The clip then showed his face superimposed on an image of Mao, although he did not name the former Chinese leader directly.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the controversy at a regular briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, defending the public reaction to remarks considered offensive to Chinese people.

"Words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with a collective boycott by all sectors of Chinese society," said Guo Jiakun, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The controversy has raised questions about the commercial risks facing international athletes and sports organizations operating in China. Foreign public figures have previously faced backlash over comments involving politically sensitive issues, sometimes triggering significant economic consequences.

A commentary published Tuesday by the state-backed nationalist newspaper Global Times said sporting events and advertisements involving Mbappe had also been suspended from broadcasting in China. The commentary presented the episode as a warning to other international figures seeking access to the Chinese market.

"Mbappe is not an isolated case. He has now paid the price, and deservedly so," the Global Times commentary said.

The publication also argued that the episode should establish a boundary for foreign public figures engaging with Chinese audiences and businesses.

"His experience should serve as a clear red line for all foreign public figures seeking to enter the Chinese market," the Global Times commentary said.

Reports that broadcasts of La Liga matches had been suspended in China prompted the Spanish league to respond. Mbappe plays for Real Madrid, one of the league's leading clubs, and the controversy threatened the competition's commercial relationship with the Chinese market.

La Liga President Javier Tebas expressed regret over the situation and said the organization was working with Chinese partners to address the fallout.

"We deeply regret" the remarks "that have caused discomfort and offense in China," said Javier Tebas, president of La Liga.

Tebas emphasized that the incident should not damage the league's broader relationships with Chinese partners and clubs.

"We cannot allow an individual's action to tarnish" La Liga and its clubs' relationship with China, Tebas said, adding that the league was working with its partners to "overcome the situation."

Mbappe also issued a public apology on social media, explaining that his response had concerned an image of himself and acknowledging the impact his words had on people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.

"During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," Mbappe said.

He expressed regret and emphasized his respect for China and its history.

"I apologize to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry," Mbappe said.

The episode follows earlier criticism from Mbappe of memes depicting him as a dictator. In an interview with French sports newspaper L'Equipe last month, he acknowledged their humorous intent while criticizing the political implications of the comparisons.

Mbappe described the memes as demonstrating "a lack of political and human awareness."

The controversy carries particular sensitivity because of Mao's enduring place in Chinese political history. Mao led the Communist Party to victory in the civil war in 1949 and governed China until his death in 1976. His legacy includes major economic and political campaigns associated with widespread suffering and social upheaval.

The Great Leap Forward, a radical industrialization campaign, contributed to famines believed to have killed tens of millions of people. The Cultural Revolution, launched under Mao's leadership, produced a decade of political and social chaos.

China's ruling Communist Party has acknowledged Mao's role in those events while maintaining that his achievements outweighed his mistakes. His portrait remains on China's 100-yuan banknote, and he continues to hold symbolic importance for some young people frustrated by economic conditions and intense social competition.

Online reactions to Mbappe's remarks varied, although China's strict censorship controls meant some users might not have seen the original comments. One Weibo user supported a boycott without specifying the exact words that had caused offense.

"I don't care what exactly he said. If it was insulting to China, then it hurt my feelings. I support boycotting him," the Weibo user wrote.

Mark Dreyer, author of a book on China's sports industry, described the episode as another example of companies responding to public pressure to protect their commercial interests, regardless of the full context of a controversy.

Dreyer warned that the consequences could extend beyond Mbappe to other international athletes and celebrities considering commercial opportunities in China.

"The ultimate result is that sports stars and global celebrities will become increasingly cautious about engaging with China," Dreyer said.

He also questioned whether the backlash would benefit the country or its sports audience.

"It's hard to see how this outcome benefits China or its sports fans," Dreyer said.

The controversy unfolded as Mbappe finished a close second in the Ballon d'Or voting on Monday, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the French captain as Chinese companies and La Liga responded to the dispute.