Chinese firms Dongpeng and Mengniu end cooperation with Mbappé after reported Mao video

Two Chinese companies, beverage maker Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu, said on Tuesday that they were ending all cooperation with footballer Kylian Mbappé with immediate effect.

Both companies announced the decision in statements. Dongpeng cited a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviour that offends national sentiments. Mengniu cited a zero-tolerance policy towards words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

The video

According to AFP, as carried by France 24, The Hindu and The Guardian, the decisions followed a video circulating online in which Mbappé apparently joked about Mao Zedong. AFP Fact Check could not immediately verify the video's authenticity.

In the video, Mbappé appears to say that the funniest internet meme he had seen showed his face photoshopped onto that of "some guy – I think he's a Chinese dictator", France 24 reported. According to the reports, this was an apparent reference to a meme placing his face on an image of Mao. It is one of several memes that combine his face with historical figures.

Mao was China's founding leader and died in 1976. In China, jokes about him are considered disrespectful and remain a social taboo, according to the reports.

Reaction in China

"Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappé" was the top-trending topic on the Chinese social media site Weibo, according to AFP. Dongqiudi, described as one of China's biggest online football outlets, criticised the remarks in a statement on Monday evening, The Hindu and The Guardian reported.

Before the incident, Mbappé, 27, was popular among Chinese fans and had millions of followers on social media, according to the same reports. Fans nicknamed him "Guigui" ("Turtle") because of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meme. Adverts with AI-generated images of him drinking a Dongpeng sports drink were regularly shown in China during this year's World Cup.

The announcements came one day after Mbappé lost to Harry Kane for the Ballon d'Or, according to the reports.

What each side says

• Dongpeng, quoted by France 24: "Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments."
• Mengniu, described in the reports as China's largest dairy producer, quoted by France 24: "Mengniu firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people."
• Dongqiudi said the remarks were "offensive to China and the Chinese people", according to The Guardian.
• Weibo users: one user called the remarks unacceptable and said they crossed a red line. Others urged Dongpeng to remove Mbappé's image from its energy drink bottles.
• Mbappé: the reports do not include any response from him or his representatives to the video or to the sponsors' decisions. In September, in an interview with French sports newspaper L'Equipe, he addressed an earlier meme that depicted him as a military dictator. The Guardian quoted him as saying: "There's a part of it that's funny... But there is another part that's a bit less funny because of the damage such people have caused throughout history."

What the reports do not include

The reports do not describe when, where or in what context the video was recorded, or who first posted it. They do not include reactions from Real Madrid, the French Football Federation or Chinese government officials. They do not describe the value or terms of the agreements, or say whether other partners are considering similar action.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi appear to derive from a single AFP dispatch.

Analysis

The case shows how quickly commercial partnerships can end when content touches on topics considered sensitive in a major market. The companies acted before the video's authenticity was established. Several scenarios remain open. If the video is confirmed as genuine, other partners could review their ties, though the reports do not say whether any are doing so. If it is shown to be altered or taken out of context, questions may arise about verification before corporate decisions. A statement from Mbappé or his representatives could also shape how fans and sponsors respond. Any longer-term effect on his standing in China cannot be determined from current reporting.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.