French football superstar Kylian Mbappé lost two major Chinese corporate sponsorship deals on Tuesday after an online video surfaced in which he appeared to make a derogatory joke referencing former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The commercial fallout triggered a wave of public outrage across China, with local brands moving swiftly to sever ties with the international striker over accusations of offending national sentiments.
Why did Chinese brands drop Kylian Mbappé?
Chinese brands severed their endorsement deals with Kylian Mbappé after a video circulated online showing the footballer making light of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. According to reporting from the BBC, Mbappé allegedly stated during the recording that his favorite internet meme was the one where people put his face on a Chinese dictator. The remark sparked immediate backlash among Chinese consumers and corporate sponsors, who viewed the comment as a direct insult to national dignity.
"the one where they put my face on a Chinese dictator"
Which companies cut ties with Kylian Mbappé?
Two major Chinese commercial partners ended their agreements with Kylian Mbappé on Tuesday, including the energy drink giant Eastroc Beverage, as confirmed by reporting from France 24. Corporate sponsors in the country acted quickly to distance their brands from the footballer as public calls for a boycott intensified across domestic social media platforms. Outlets including Hong Kong Free Press reported that the companies canceled the lucrative endorsement contracts specifically on the grounds that Mbappé had offended Chinese national sentiments.
How does the commercial loss impact Kylian Mbappé?
The loss of major Chinese sponsors represents a significant blow to the global commercial presence of Kylian Mbappé, who possesses Cameroon-Algerian roots and stands as one of the world's most marketable athletes. Business Insider Africa highlighted that this financial and reputational setback in the Asian market occurred precisely as the French forward was beaten to the prestigious Ballon d'Or award by England striker Harry Kane. The convergence of losing the top individual football honor and forfeiting major endorsement revenue marks a challenging period for the player's off-pitch enterprise.
