Kylian Mbappé faces commercial fallout in China over meme controversy

Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé is facing significant commercial backlash in China following a recent appearance on the French program 'The Bridge'. During the interview, which circulated widely on social media on October 27, 2026, the 27-year-old footballer discussed a popular internet meme that superimposes his face onto an image of the founding leader of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong.

In the footage, Mbappé refers to the individual in the meme as "some Chinese dictator" and admits to using it frequently in private conversations with friends. Although he does not explicitly name Mao Zedong, the visual content of the segment sparked immediate outrage across Chinese social media platforms. In response to the perceived insult toward a national historical figure, several major Chinese companies have announced the termination of their business partnerships with the player.

While the original video has been removed from the official YouTube channel of the program, the incident has escalated into a broader diplomatic issue. Reports indicate that the authenticity of the edited footage is currently a subject of public discussion, though the financial consequences for the athlete remain in effect as firms distance themselves from the controversy.