World · October 27, 2026
Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Mbappé over ‘Chinese dictator’ remark
French soccer star Kylian Mbappé issued a public apology after several Chinese companies terminated their sponsorship deals following his comments regarding former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. During an appearance on the talk show 'The Bridge,' Mbappé referred to a meme featuring his face superimposed onto an image of Mao, whom he called a "Chinese dictator." In response, beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground ended their agreements with the athlete, citing a need to protect national sentiment. Mbappé expressed regret, stating his remarks were ill-judged and that he has deep respect for Chinese history.
Read the original coverage
- BBCAllSides: CenterMBFC: Least Biased
Mbappé sorry for 'ill-judged' Mao remark after backlash in China
Read at BBC ↗ - Associated PressAllSides: Lean LeftMBFC: Left-Center
Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Mbappé over ‘Chinese dictator’ remark
Read at Associated Press ↗ - CNNAllSides: Lean Left (Digital)MBFC: Left-Center
Soccer star Kylian Mbappé apologizes for remark about ‘Chinese dictator’ | CNN
Read at CNN ↗ - Fox NewsAllSides: Right (Digital)MBFC: Right
BOBBY BURACK: Kylian Mbappé joins LeBron James, John Cena, other athletes in bending the knee to China
Read at Fox News ↗ Global Soccer Star Kylian Mbappé Just Apologized to China—for a Mao Zedong Meme
Read at Wall Street Journal ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Kylian Mbappé apologized for comments regarding Mao Zedong.
- Mbappé referred to the subject of a meme as a "Chinese dictator."
- Three Chinese companies—Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground—terminated their sponsorship deals with Mbappé.
- The controversy stemmed from an appearance on the talk show 'The Bridge.'
- Mbappé stated that his comments were "ill-judged" and that he did not intend to cause offense.
Reported by only some outlets
- La Liga issued a separate apology expressing deep regret for the offense caused to Chinese fans.
- The meme in question is part of a recurring joke where Mbappé is nicknamed 'dictator' due to his influence in football.
- Chinese state media and social media platforms saw a significant backlash against the player's remarks.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize the financial repercussions and the specific corporate responses from Chinese brands while highlighting Mbappé's explicit respect for Chinese history in his apology.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
portray the apology as "bending the knee" to a communist regime and characterize the incident as athletes prioritizing Chinese market access over free speech.
Centrist outlets tend to focus on…
focus on the cultural sensitivity surrounding Mao Zedong in China and the contrast between the humorous intent of the meme and its reception under Chinese censorship.
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
About these outlets
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