Mbappé apologizes to China over Mao Zedong remark
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Neutral summary
Kylian Mbappé apologized for what he called a “thoughtless” statement about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong after a video circulated online in which he appeared to joke about a meme likening him to a “Chinese dictator.” The backlash prompted Chinese companies, including energy drink maker Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu, to end their deals with the player. China Central Television (CCTV) suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches involving Mbappé and said it hoped La Liga, Real Madrid and the player would learn a real lesson from the scandal. La Liga issued an apology to Chinese fans, and its president Javier Tebas met with the Chinese ambassador to Spain. Chinese streaming service Migu initiated a review of its obligations to Spanish football, threatening a €400 million contract between La Liga and China. The official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party warned that global celebrities risk losing commercial appeal in the country if they offend local audiences. Shares of Swiss sportswear maker On, which recently partnered with Mbappé, fell after the controversy. Losses from the termination of three sponsorships are estimated at around €7 million.
How it was framed
Outlets: 113. Countries: 30. Facts in the shared core: 5.
Publication timeline
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Le Parisien (outlet profile)
« Il a heurté les sentiments nationaux » : Kylian Mbappé dans la tourmente en Chine après avoir comparé Mao à un dictateur
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France 24 (outlet profile)
Kylian Mbappe loses two major China sponsorship deals over Mao Zedong joke. French football star Kylian Mbappe was dropped by two major Chinese brands on Tuesday after a video circulated online in which he appeared to j…
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Malay Mail (outlet profile)
Mbappe dropped by two Chinese brands over video referencing Mao Zedong. BEIJING, Oct 27 — Kylian Mbappe was dropped Tuesday by two major brands in China after a video circulated online i...
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Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands for 'offending national sentiments'
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Bloomberg (outlet profile)
Mbappé Apologizes for Perceived Mao Insult After China Backlash. French football star Kylian Mbappé apologized for offending Chinese fans with comments perceived as insulting to Mao Zedong, following a backlash that pro…
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ТАСС (outlet profile)
В КНР начали разрывать контракты с Мбаппе из-за оскорбления национальных чувств. В одном из интервью футболист рассказал, что его любимый мем - это его лицо, отредактированное с помощью графического редактора и наложенн…
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Lenta.ru (outlet profile)
Названа причина разрывов контрактов Мбаппе с крупными китайскими компаниями
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Известия (outlet profile)
Две компании КНР прекратили партнерство с Мбаппе после его шутки про Мао Цзэдуна. Китайский производитель напитков Eastroc Beverage и китайская пищевая компания Mengniu Dairy объявили о прекращении сотрудничества с фран…
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Nikkei Asia (outlet profile)
Chinese brands drop soccer star Kylian Mbappe for 'offending' nation
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O Globo (outlet profile)
Duas empresas chinesas rompem com Mbappé por causa de vídeo sobre Mao Tsé-Tung. Duas companhias chinesas, Dongpeng e Mengniu, anunciaram nesta terça-feira o rompimento de seus acordos com Kylian Mbappé, após a divulgaçã…
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Sud Ouest (outlet profile)
VIDEO. Chine : deux grands sponsors rompent leur contrat avec Kylian Mbappé pour une vidéo jugée “offensante”. Les géants chinois Dongpeng et Mengniu cessent leur collaboration avec Kylian Mbappé après la diffusion d’un…
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RMC Sport (outlet profile)
Des propos "extrêmement graves et inappropriés": Kylian Mbappé perd deux contrats en Chine après avoir comparé Mao Zedong à un dictateur. Une vidéo dans laquelle Kylian Mbappé semble plaisanter à propos de Mao Zedong a…
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BFMTV (outlet profile)
Des propos "extrêmement graves et inappropriés": Kylian Mbappé perd deux contrats en Chine après avoir comparé Mao Zedong à un dictateur. Une vidéo dans laquelle Kylian Mbappé semble plaisanter à propos de Mao Zedong a…
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franceinfo (outlet profile)
Deux grandes compagnies chinoises rompent leurs contrats avec Kylian Mbappé l'accusant d'avoir "heurté les sentiments nationaux". En cause : une référence à Mao Zedong, lors d'une interview avec Aurélien Tchouaméni, son…
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Kicker (outlet profile)
Mbappé verliert zwei Werbepartner in China. Zwei Getränkehersteller in China haben die Zusammenarbeit mit Kylian Mbappé mit sofortiger Wirkung beendet. Der Vorwurf: Der französische Stürmerstar soll die Gefühle der Chin…
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BFMTV (outlet profile)
Mao "dictateur" : des sponsors chinois lâchent Mbappé. Mauvaise soirée pour Kylian Mbappé. Deuxième, derrière Harry Kane hier soir au Ballon d’Or, il a été lâché cette nuit par deux sponsors qui l'accusent d'avoir "heur…
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CNews (outlet profile)
Kylian Mbappé perd deux partenaires chinois après une vidéo évoquant Mao Zedong. Ce mardi 27 octobre, les compagnies chinoises Dogpeng et Mengniu ont annoncé rompre leur coopération avec l’international français Kylian…
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Телеканал 360 (outlet profile)
Две компании из КНР прекратили сотрудничать с Мбаппе из-за шутки про Мао Цзэдуна. Две китайские компании разорвали рекламные контракты с игроком мадридского «Реала» Килианом Мбаппе после его шутки про Мао Цзэдуна. Об эт…
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BBC News (outlet profile)
Major Chinese brands drop Mbappé as backlash grows over Mao joke. He allegedly said his "favourite meme" is "the one where they put my face on a Chinese dictator".
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El Mundo (outlet profile)
La televisión estatal china suspende las emisiones de LaLiga tras la polémica con Mbappé. Dos empresas chinas rompen lazos comerciales con el delantero del Real Madrid tras sus declaraciones sobre un 'meme' del "dictado…
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Asharq Al-Awsat (outlet profile)
Mbappe Dropped by Chinese Brands for 'Offending National Sentiments'
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Mbappé over ‘Chinese dictator’ remark. For months, French soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s face has appeared in ads across China, from subway stations to elevators in residenti…
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Inquirer.net (outlet profile)
Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands for 'offending national sentiments'. BEIJING–Kylian Mbappe was dropped Tuesday by two major brands in China after a video circulated online in which the French football star apparently j…
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands after Mao Zedong joke. Kylian Mbappe was dropped Tuesday by two major brands in China after a video circulated online in which the French football star apparently joked about former lead…
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La Vanguardia (outlet profile)
La televisión china suspende las emisiones de LaLiga tras la polémica de Mbappé y su 'meme'. Empresas chinas rescinden sus contratos con el futbolista del Madrid: “las palabras y los actos que hieren los sentimientos de…
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BFMTV (outlet profile)
Polémique Mbappé-Mao: C'est l'escalade, maintenant le gouvernement chinois s'en prend au capitaine des Bleus. Accusé d'avoir offensé les sentiments nationaux en plaisantant au sujet de Mao Zedong, Kylian Mbappé a perdu…
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RMC Sport (outlet profile)
Polémique Mbappé-Mao: C'est l'escalade, maintenant le gouvernement chinois s'en prend au capitaine des Bleus. Accusé d'avoir offensé les sentiments nationaux en plaisantant au sujet de Mao Zedong, Kylian Mbappé a perdu…
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La Croix (outlet profile)
Chine : levée de boucliers contre Kylian Mbappé après ses propos sur Mao Zedong. En Chine, une vidéo de Kylian Mbappé faisant référence à Mao Zedong a déclenché une tempête. Mardi 27 octobre, trois entreprises chinoises…
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Telegraf (outlet profile)
Embape prvo ostao bez Zlatne lopte, onda i bez miliona: Sponzori mu otkazali saradnju zbog bizarnog "mima". Dan nakon što mu je izmakla Zlatna lopta i pošto se morao zadovoljiti drugim mestom u izboru za igrača godine,…
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www.rbc.ru (outlet profile)
Мбаппе лишился рекламных контрактов в Китае из-за шутки о Мао Цзэдуне. Футболист рассказывал, что его любимый мем — его лицо, прифотошопленное к лицу «какого-то парня — кажется, китайского диктатора». Производитель напи…
Factual core
- Mbappe lost contracts with Chinese brands due to the comment about Mao Zedong.
- Kylian Mbappé referred to Mao Zedong as a 'Chinese dictator' in a discussion about his favorite memes.
- Two major Chinese brands terminated sponsorship contracts with football star Kylian Mbappe.
- Mbappé's apology was a response to the backlash from his comment.
- The meme sparked a furious backlash in China.
In the daily issue: The day in brief — October 27, 2026
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