Mbappe Faces Backlash and Brand Boycott in China Over Controversial Mao Comments

10/27/2026

Oct 27 (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe has been dropped ⁠by ⁠a string of Chinese brands ⁠following a backlash to his alleged comments about a meme featuring an image resembling China's late leader Mao...

10/27/2026

The announcements came after a video emerged online with Mbappe saying that the funniest internet meme he had seen was of his face photo-shopped onto that of "some guy — I think he’s a Chinese...

10/27/2026

He’s one of the world’s most popular athletes, but Kylian Mbappé is suddenly paying the penalty for being on the wrong side of China’s fervent nationalism.

10/27/2026

French soccer star Kylian Mbappe's face appears in ads across China, from subway stations to inside elevators, but now at least three companies are cutting ties with the national team captain...

10/27/2026

CCTV has reportedly removed advertisements featuring Mbappe, stopped airing soccer matches involving the Frenchman and deleted all posts related to him from its official Weibo account

10/27/2026

The France star had referred to the former Chinese leader as a "dictator" during an interview about memes.