French football star Kylian Mbappe has lost two major sponsorship deals in China after a video circulated online in which he appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Chinese beverage company Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu announced they were ending their partnerships with the Real Madrid and France forward, citing a zero-tolerance policy towards remarks considered offensive to Chinese national sentiments.The video reportedly showed Mbappe commenting on a meme featuring his face superimposed on an image of Mao Zedong. However, AFP Fact Check said the authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified, leaving questions over the footage.
The controversy has triggered widespread discussion on Chinese social media with the companies’ decisions highlighting the potential reputational risks for international celebrities operating in the Chinese market.
