BEIJING, China — French football star Kylian Mbappé has been dropped by at least three major Chinese companies following a controversy over remarks about an internet meme apparently depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Beverage manufacturer Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground announced on October 27, 2026, that they were ending their commercial partnerships with the Real Madrid and France forward, citing concerns over remarks that offended Chinese national sentiments.

The controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing his favourite internet memes. In the clip, he reportedly described a meme featuring his face superimposed on the body of a Chinese dictator as one that made him laugh.

Although Mbappé did not explicitly name Mao Zedong, the accompanying image appeared to reference the former Chinese leader, who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and died in 1976.

Dongpeng announced that it was terminating all cooperation with Mbappé with immediate effect, stating that the company maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviour that offends national sentiments.

Mengniu, one of China's largest dairy producers, issued a similar statement, saying it opposed words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

Milkground also ended its partnership with the footballer, further widening the commercial fallout from the controversy.

Backlash spreads across China

The remarks triggered widespread criticism on Chinese social media, where users called on brands to sever ties with the footballer and remove promotional materials featuring him.

The controversy also drew a response from Dongqiudi, one of China's major online football platforms, which condemned the remarks as offensive to Chinese people and football fans.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also said remarks that offend the feelings of the Chinese people would face collective opposition.

The incident has highlighted the sensitivity surrounding public commentary about Mao Zedong, a central figure in China's modern history. While memes portraying Mbappé as authoritarian leaders have circulated widely online, the reference to a Chinese leader has provoked a particularly strong reaction in the country.

A wider commercial fallout

The controversy has also affected the wider football and media landscape in China. Reports indicate that state broadcaster CCTV suspended broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches amid the backlash and removed advertisements and videos featuring Mbappé.

Social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, said its content partnership with Mbappé had ended in December 2024 and announced plans to remove related promotional materials.

The developments could have implications for the commercial relationship between international football stars and Chinese brands, where access to the country's large consumer market is an important consideration for sponsorship agreements.

Mbappé, 27, is one of the most recognisable figures in world football, representing France internationally and playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

His representatives were not immediately available for comment on the latest developments, according to the Associated Press.