HONG KONG — 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. The French soccer star’s own goal? Suggesting that Mao Zedong, the founding leader of communist China, was a dictator, in comments that revolved around memes portraying Mbappé as an authoritarian figure.
A host of Chinese brands said Tuesday that they were cutting ties with the French captain, the latest example of how rapidly celebrities can go from having their faces plastered in subway stations and on drink bottles to drawing condemnation over political sensitivities that are little understood outside China. The scale of the backlash prompted La Liga, the Spanish league of which Mbappé is the leading light, to apologize and distance itself from his remarks. Mbappé himself then apologized “to everyone my words have upset,” saying that his “comment was ill-judged.” The swift apologies aimed to head off what had been a wave of outrage.
Dongpeng Beverage, known for its energy drinks, Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy, one of China’s largest dairy producers, and cheesemaker Milkground all issued similarly worded statements early Tuesday announcing that they were terminating their ties with Mbappé. Dongqiudi, the popular Chinese soccer platform, said it could not translate Mbappé’s remarks because “his comments involve statements that hurt China.” The Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu also distanced itself from Mbappé, saying its contract with him had ended after he appeared in a 2024 ad for the platform that went viral. On Tuesday, a note on Mbappé’s Xiaohongshu account, which had more than a million followers, said it had been suspended “for violating community guidelines.” The companies did not specify Mbappé’s missteps, but the statements came after a clip circulated widely on social media Monday showing an interview last spring with the French online talk show “The Bridge.” Mbappé is often depicted jokingly online as a dictator because of his outsize presence on and off the field.
Fans have created memes comparing him to a number of authoritarian historical figures, including Mao. In the clip, Mbappé was asked which meme was his favorite. The clip then shows Mbappé’s face superimposed on an image of Mao, whom Mbappé did not mention by name.
His comments drew fury in China, where he was accused of insulting a country that has been a lucrative source of income for him. Foreign athletes have run afoul of Chinese sensitivities in the past, sometimes with profound economic consequences for major sports leagues. NBA games were largely suspended from Chinese broadcast for years in 2019 after a Houston Rockets manager expressed support for anti-government protests in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong, and in 2023 former NBA star Dwight Howard drew controversy when he referred to the Beijing-claimed island of Taiwan as a country.
According to a commentary Tuesday by Global Times, a state-backed nationalist tabloid, sporting events and advertisements involving Mbappé have also been suspended from broadcasting. He has now paid the price, and deservedly so,” the commentary said. My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.” He added: “I apologize to everyone my words have upset.
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