French football superstar Kylian Mbappé has lost commercial partnerships with major Chinese brands after a video circulated online in which he appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The announcements came on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after the video triggered criticism in China, where jokes about Mao, the country's founding leader who died in 1976, remain a sensitive subject.
In the video, Mbappé reportedly described an internet meme featuring his face edited onto the image of a man he believed was a Chinese dictator as the funniest meme he had seen. The remarks were interpreted by critics as referring to Mao Zedong.
The controversy prompted Chinese companies to reconsider their commercial relationships with the footballer. According to reports, brands including Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage ended their cooperation with him.
The incident highlights the challenges international celebrities can face when public comments or online humour are viewed as disrespectful to another country's history and cultural sensitivities.
Mbappé is one of football's most recognisable figures, with a global profile extending beyond the sport through advertising and sponsorship agreements. The loss of partnerships in China demonstrates how controversies can have consequences for athletes' commercial relationships.
The episode also underlines the importance of cultural awareness for global brands and public figures operating across international markets.
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