Full Breakdown
Mbappé Loses Chinese Endorsements Over Alleged Mao Joke
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Drinks giant Dongpeng announced an immediate end to all cooperation, and dairy producer Mengniu followed suit, citing a “zero-tolerance policy” toward actions that offend Chinese national sentiment. The terminations were reported on the same day as the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 26, 2026.
Background & Context
Jokes about Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China who died in 1976, remain a social taboo in mainland China. The Chinese Communist Party continues to present Mao as a national icon, and any perceived disrespect can trigger swift public and corporate backlash. Previous incidents involving foreign athletes—such as NBA player Dwight Howard’s reference to Taiwan in 2023 and former Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s 2019 Hong Kong tweet—have similarly resulted in sponsorship losses and media bans.
Data & Statistics
- Dongpeng Beverage Group – a leading Chinese drinks manufacturer that featured AI-generated images of Mbappé drinking its sports drink during the 2026 World Cup.
- Mengniu Dairy – China’s largest dairy producer, with a market share that makes it a key partner for global sports figures.
- Eastroc Beverage Group – another major beverage company that terminated a half-year partnership with Mbappé for its “Electrolyte” brand after the controversy.
These firms collectively represent a substantial portion of the Chinese consumer-goods market, underscoring the commercial impact of the backlash.
Official Statements & Responses
Dongpeng issued a statement declaring, “Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that offends national sentiments,” and confirmed the immediate termination of its cooperation with Mbappé.
Mbappé has not publicly responded to the brand decisions, and Real Madrid has remained silent on the matter.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Multiple outlets, including AFP Fact Check and the news agencies cited, reported that the authenticity of the video could not be immediately verified. While the remarks are widely quoted, no definitive confirmation of the clip’s origin has been provided, leaving a gap between the perceived offense and the factual basis of the statements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As his remarks were offensive to China and the Chinese people, we are unable to translate them,” — Dongqiudi, one of China’s biggest online football outlets
- “Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that offends national sentiments,” — Dongpeng
- “There's a part of it that's funny. You can tell that, for some people, it's all in good fun,” — Kylian Mbappe, france captain
- “We know who has made history this summer, and he’s not from PSG or the Spanish national team,” — José Mourinho
These quotations capture the perspectives of the Chinese football outlet, the beverage company, Mbappé himself, and his club manager, illustrating the range of reactions that have shaped the controversy.