Kylian Mbappe and the other celebrities and brands blacklisted by China

Mbappe was dropped by Chinese brands after joking about Mao Zedong in a viral video; state TV also suspended La Liga broadcasts.

Kylian Mbappe has joined a growing list of celebrities and brands facing backlash from China after making comments deemed offensive to the country. The Real Madrid forward was dropped by multiple Chinese brand partners following a video in which he joked about a meme showing his face photoshopped onto that of Mao Zedong, calling the Chinese leader "some guy - I think he's a Chinese dictator".

The consequences extended beyond commercial partnerships. State-run Chinese digital newspaper The Paper reported that public television suspended broadcasting of La Liga matches, directly affecting Mbappe's visibility in the Chinese market.

Mbappe's situation reflects a broader pattern of international figures and major brands facing significant backlash in China over geopolitical and cultural sensitivities. Previous high-profile cases include fashion brands Dolce & Gabbana and Versace losing ambassadors over products identifying Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate countries, luxury brands Dior and Marriott apologizing for map errors, and major sportswear companies Nike and Adidas facing boycotts over Xinjiang cotton statements. The NBA also experienced an 18-month broadcasting blackout after a Houston Rockets official tweeted support for Hong Kong democracy protests in 2019.