Mbappe Drops Two Sponsors After Apology for China Remark

Kylian Mbappe has apologized for a remark made during a pre-interview recording that has drawn sharp criticism from fans and brands in China. The French national team captain stated that his comment was ill-judged and that he understands the hurt it caused among Chinese communities globally.

The incident began when a video, verified by Al Jazeera as having been filmed in April, was shared by the French football podcast The Bridge on Monday. In the clip, the 27-year-old appeared to joke that the funniest internet meme he had seen was of his own face digitally placed onto the image of a Chinese dictator. Although he did not name Mao Zedong, the reference to the founding leader of the People's Republic of China struck a cultural nerve in a country where such jokes are often considered a taboo.

The backlash forced two major commercial partners to cut ties with the player on Tuesday. Dongpeng, a leading Chinese beverage company, terminated its contract with Mbappe with immediate effect. The company stated that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that offends national sentiments. Mengniu, China's largest dairy producer, also severed ties. Until this week, Mbappe had been a highly popular figure in the region, holding millions of followers on local social media platforms.

Mbappe addressed the controversy in a statement published in French, Mandarin, and English. He explained that he had reacted to an image of himself during the interview and that his intention was never to be disrespectful. He expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history. The Spanish league, La Liga, also issued an apology on behalf of the organization and Real Madrid. President Javier Tebas wrote on X that the league was working directly with partners in China to repair the relationship built over many years.

Chinese state media and social platforms have amplified the reaction. The state-backed Global Times noted that many Chinese consumers felt respect was not optional for a foreign athlete profiting from the market. China Daily described the incident as a reminder of the limits of celebrity influence. On Weibo, four topics related to Mbappe remained in the top 10 trending searches as of 07:00 GMT on Tuesday. Some users called for the player to be blacklisted, a sentiment that received hundreds of likes on the platform.

The fallout has extended to broadcasting. According to the state-backed media outlet The Paper, China's state television has halted broadcasts of all La Liga matches and events involving Mbappe. All advertisements featuring the player have also been removed from screens. A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally meet with opposition from all sectors of society. Mbappe, who also holds deals with On Holding, Accor, and Lego, remains under close scrutiny as the situation develops.

The player's statement was the first formal response to the viral clip, which had circulated widely before the sponsor decisions were announced. The timing of the apology, coming after the contract terminations, underscores the rapid pace at which the commercial and cultural fallout unfolded. No further official announcement has been made regarding the status of Mbappe's other international partnerships.