Mbappé embroiled in controversy over Mao Zedong meme; two Chinese organizations sever ties

Kylian Mbappé has won the hearts of millions of fans in China with his performances on the football pitch. Many have even affectionately nicknamed him "Gui Gui"—which translates to "turtle" in Chinese—a moniker inspired by a meme featuring the popular cartoon characters, the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

However, the French star now finds himself at the center of a controversy in China. He has been accused of making a joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong in a video that has circulated online, sparking an angry backlash on Chinese social media. In response, two major Chinese companies—beverage manufacturer Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu—have announced the termination of all commercial ties with Mbappé.

Dongpeng and Mengniu sever ties with Mbappé

Chinese beverage company Dongpeng recently announced the end of its partnership with Mbappé. In a statement, the company declared its firm opposition to any behavior that offends national sentiment, emphasizing a policy of "zero tolerance" regarding such matters.

The company further stated that all ties with Mbappé would be severed immediately.

Leading up to this year’s World Cup, the 27-year-old French captain had frequently appeared in advertisements for Dongpeng in China. In these commercials—created using artificial intelligence (AI)—Mbappé was shown consuming the company’s sports drink.

Major Chinese dairy producer Mengniu has taken a similar stance, announcing the immediate cessation of all cooperation with Mbappé. The company also affirmed its "zero tolerance" policy toward any statements or actions that hurt the sentiments of the Chinese people.

What did Mbappé say?

In the video circulating online, Mbappé is heard talking about what he considers the funniest meme he has ever seen. According to him, the meme featured his face superimposed onto someone else’s.

Describing the person, Mbappé said, "It was on the face of some man—I think he was a Chinese dictator."

It is believed that Mbappé was referring to a meme featuring the former Chinese leader, Mao Zedong. A meme—created by placing the French star's face over an image of Mao—had circulated online. However, memes featuring Mbappé’s face superimposed onto images of other historical figures have also appeared.

Meanwhile, the fact-check division of the news agency AFP could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video; therefore, there is some caution regarding the context of the video and the accuracy of the statements made.

Why is joking about Mao Zedong a sensitive matter?

Mao Zedong is known as the founder of the People's Republic of China. Although he passed away in 1976, he remains a highly significant figure within China’s political and historical landscape.

Satire or jokes involving him are considered sensitive in China. Consequently, following the circulation of the video, Mbappé’s remarks triggered a strong reaction on Chinese social media.

On the popular Chinese social media platform Weibo, the topic "Dongpeng Beverage severs ties with Mbappé" became a top trending discussion.

One Weibo user wrote, "A grave error in judgment... it has crossed all lines. This is completely unacceptable."

Many have also demanded the removal of Mbappé’s image from Dongpeng energy drink bottles, which currently feature his likeness.

Outrage among Chinese football fans

Dongqiudi, one of China’s largest online football news outlets, stated on Monday evening that Mbappé’s remarks were insulting to China and the Chinese people. According to them, the incident has hurt the sentiments of Chinese football fans and the general public alike. Despite his popularity on the football pitch, Kylian Mbappé’s commercial image in China is currently under pressure due to a controversial video. The situation has intensified following announcements that major brands, such as Dongpeng and Mengniu, have severed ties with him.

However, as the authenticity of the video and the full context of his remarks have not been independently verified, further information is required before reaching any definitive conclusions about the incident.