Mbappé Lost Three Sponsors in One Day Over a Meme

Kylian Mbappé lost three Chinese sponsors on a single day this week, and none of it started with an ad. It started with an old backstage clip about a meme.

What happened

The clip comes from a backstage interview with French-language talk show The Bridge, filmed in April and posted on Monday, ABC reports. In it, Mbappé says the meme that made him laugh the most featured his face on the body of "a guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator," and that he would "use it a lot with my friends online." The image shows his head on what appears to be the body of Mao Zedong.

The details

Dongpeng went first. The drinks company had named Mbappé a brand ambassador for its electrolyte drink in April. Its statement: "Dongpeng Beverage firmly opposes and has zero tolerance for any conduct that hurts national feelings. Effective immediately, we are terminating all cooperation with Kylian Mbappé," per ABC and Euronews.

Two more followed. Chinese dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground also announced they had ended their partnerships with him, according to ABC, France 24 and Forbes.

It went past sponsors. Chinese state media reported that broadcasts of Spain's La Liga would be suspended, ABC reports. France 24 reports China Media Group suspended the broadcasts and removed ads featuring him. La Liga said the comments were "made in a personal capacity and do not represent La Liga."

The apology. Mbappé apologized on Tuesday evening to "everyone my words have upset." "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," he said, per ABC. The Bridge also apologized and removed the clip.

Why brands should care

The clip was six months old. Nobody at Dongpeng needed to have done anything wrong for it to land on them. When you put a face on your brand, you also take on everything that face has said on camera, including the offhand stuff from an interview nobody watched at the time. That's true for a World Cup star and for a local creator you pay to post about your café.

What to do

Our suggestions:

1. Watch the old stuff. Before signing an ambassador or creator, go through their past posts, podcasts and interviews, not just their last month.
2. Know your markets. A joke that lands fine in one country can end a deal in another. Check against the audiences you sell to.
3. Write an exit into the contract. Include a clear conduct clause so you're not negotiating while the story trends.
4. Have a statement ready. Decide in advance who signs off and how fast you'll respond if a partner becomes the story.

Sources

• ABC: Kylian Mbappé dropped by Chinese sponsors over Mao meme (Oct 27, 2026)
• Euronews: Chinese sponsors drop Mbappé over Mao Zedong joke (Oct 27, 2026)
• France 24 (Oct 27, 2026)
• Forbes: Mbappé loses Chinese sponsorship deals amid Mao Zedong meme backlash (Oct 27, 2026)

FAQ

Why did Chinese sponsors drop Kylian Mbappé?

A clip from French show The Bridge showed Mbappé saying his favorite meme put his face on "a guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator." Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground then ended their partnerships with him, according to ABC.

Which brands cut ties with Mbappé?

Electrolyte drink maker Dongpeng Beverage, which named him a brand ambassador in April, plus Chinese dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground.

Did Mbappé apologize?

Yes. He said: "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," and apologized to "everyone my words have upset," per ABC.