Chinese Brands Cut Ties With Mbappe Over Reported Mao Meme Remarks
Several Chinese companies, including Eastroc Beverage, Mengniu and Milkground, have ended their partnerships with Kylian Mbappe after a video emerged of him allegedly joking about a meme linked to Mao Zedong.
Beijing, China. A number of Chinese brands have terminated their agreements with footballer Kylian Mbappe amid public anger over remarks attributed to him about a meme resembling the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The video and the reaction
A clip that circulated online on Monday appears to show Mbappe saying that the funniest meme of himself he had come across showed his face blended onto a dictator from China. Reuters said it was unable to verify the authenticity of the video.
Eastroc Beverage, whose drinks carried Mbappe’s image, published a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The company said it firmly opposed “behaviour that hurts national sentiment”. It added: “Effective immediately, we are ending all cooperation with Kylian Mbappe.”
The dairy producers Mengniu and Milkground have likewise stopped working with the player. Mbappe’s representatives did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Background on the memes
Supporters have produced images placing Mbappe’s face on military and political figures, implying that he holds decisive influence at the clubs he plays for.
Mao founded the People’s Republic of China and died in 1976. Many people in the country revere him as the saviour of the nation, and humour about him is regarded as taboo.
Earlier comments to L’Equipe
In an interview with L’Equipe last month, Mbappe said some elements of the trend were harmless fun. He added that the viral memes portraying him as a dictator revealed insufficient political and human awareness.
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