Kylian Mbappe just got dropped by two major Chinese brands, Mengniu and Dongpeng, after a comment he made on a French talk show about a viral meme sparked massive backlash. Seriously, this guy’s global appeal is huge, but this blunder shows just how fast things can turn.
The “Joke” That Blew Up
So, the 27-year-old superstar, who by the way just finished second to Harry Kane for the 2026 Ballon d’Or and is the all-time leading goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup, was on a French talk show called The Bridge earlier this week. He was asked about his increasingly viral “dictator meme.” You know the one, where his face is pasted onto the head of a dictator. Instead of brushing it off, Mbappe, trying to be funny, pointed to a doctored image of himself as Mao Zedong, the former Chinese leader. He said, “When they did a video of a guy, I believe it was a Chinese dictator, and they put my… That really makes me laugh, I use it with my friends all the time.” The internet, and clearly, the world, was not laughing with him.
Swift Backlash and Immediate Consequences
The opposition to his remarks was swift, especially after the Ballon d’Or ceremony which was broadcast globally. The Chinese Football Association immediately condemned his comments, putting out a statement and getting “stern diplomatic demarches with Real Madrid,” requesting an apology from the club. And boy, did the brands act fast! Dairy manufacturer Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng both cut ties with Mbappe. Dongpeng’s statement didn’t pull any punches: “Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy toward any actions that offend national sentiments.” Mengniu echoed that, saying they “firmly opposes and has zero tolerance for any words or actions that offend the feelings of the Chinese people.” The video of Mbappe’s comments? Poof! Gone from The Bridge’s YouTube channel.
Mbappe, seeing the massive fallout, quickly issued an apology on social media, posted in French, Chinese, and English. He admitted his comment was “ill-judged” and that he now understood it “hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.” He added, “This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect…” This is a huge hit to his brand, especially when he’s already facing criticism for an “individualistic style of play” and those memes poking fun at him for years. This isn’t just a minor slip; this is a full-blown reputational crisis.
What’s next for Mbappe? His global brand and marketability are definitely taking a hit here. You gotta wonder if other sponsors are going to be re-evaluating their deals with him, and what this means for future endorsements. This is a tough lesson on global sensitivity and how quickly a “joke” can cost you big.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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