Why Kylian Mbappé is facing huge backlash in China, where he is now boycotted

Chinese brands and state media have ended partnerships with Mbappé and suspended Real Madrid broadcasts after a video showed him joking about Mao Zedong.

Kylian Mbappé finished second in the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting behind Harry Kane, but the disappointment was quickly overshadowed by a major controversy in China. A video circulating on social media shows the Real Madrid forward apparently joking about Mao Zedong while reacting to memes depicting him as a dictator. In the clip, Mbappé identifies a superimposed image as "a Chinese dictator," referring to the founding father of the People's Republic of China.

The backlash has been swift and severe. Three major Chinese companies—beverage giant Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground—announced the immediate termination of their sponsorship deals with Mbappé, citing a "zero tolerance" policy for statements that "hurt national feelings." The Chinese government officially condemned his conduct through Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, stating that "any remarks or acts that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people naturally meet with common rejection from Chinese society."

State media outlet CCTV has reportedly suspended broadcasts of all Real Madrid La Liga matches featuring Mbappé and removed advertisements featuring him, though this has not been independently confirmed. Mao Zedong remains an officially revered national hero in China despite his authoritarian rule and the millions who died under his regime.