Mbappe Loses Chinese Sponsorships Over Mao Joke, Apologises
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe apologised Tuesday after major Chinese brands severed ties over a viral video where he joked about a meme placing his face on Mao Zedong. Beverage giant Dongpeng, dairy leader Mengniu, and cheesemaker Milkground all announced they were ending sponsorship deals with the France captain, who was runner-up for this year's Ballon d'Or. State broadcaster CCTV suspended La Liga match broadcasts, and "Dongpeng ends cooperation with Mbappe" topped Weibo with 430 million views.
The video, recorded for French outlet L'Equipe in September, shows Mbappe calling a Mao meme "the funniest" he'd seen. In China, mocking the founding leader remains taboo. Dongpeng stated it has "zero tolerance for behaviour that offends national sentiments." Mbappe apologised in French, Chinese, and English, calling his comment "ill-judged." La Liga also apologised, noting the remarks were personal.
This follows a pattern: the NBA lost Chinese sponsorships for a year after a 2019 tweet supporting Hong Kong protests. For Nigerian athletes and entertainers building global brands, the lesson is clear—cultural red lines in major markets like China are enforced instantly and commercially. A single offhand remark can erase years of market investment.
As African stars increasingly sign international deals, understanding each market's sensitivities isn't optional—it's contract protection. Will your next endorsement clause include cultural awareness training?