Chinese Brands End Mbappé Partnerships — SkimNews
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- Kylian Mbappé said in the circulated clip that his favorite meme was “a video someone made of a guy ... I think he was a Chinese dictator”; the edit placed his face on Mao Zedong’s blue-suited body.
- Dongpeng, the beverage maker, joined dairy giant Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground in announcing Tuesday that all three companies were ending agreements with Mbappé; each statement opposed “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment.”
- Kylian Mbappé apologized Tuesday on social media, calling his comment ill-judged, saying it hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide, and expressing “deep respect” for Chinese people and their history.
- RedNote said its content partnership with Mbappé ended on Dec. 31, 2024, and that it would remove related promotional materials; it also opposed conduct that hurts national sentiment.
- Weibo listed “Dongpeng ends partnership with Mbappé” and “Several brands end partnerships with Mbappé” atop its trending list, while “Football fans boycott Mbappé” also trended and users told him not to come to China.
- LaLiga apologized for the offense caused by Mbappé’s comments among Chinese fans, said the remarks were made in a personal capacity, and said it would implement an awareness-and-communication protocol with clubs and players to help prevent similar situations.
Why it matters: With Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground ending agreements and RedNote removing promotions after saying its content partnership ended Dec. 31, 2024, Mbappé loses three named commercial agreements. LaLiga’s apology and promised awareness-and-communication protocol extend the fallout beyond one player to the league, clubs and players.
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