Kylian Mbappé was dropped by two major brands in China on Tuesday after a video surfaced online in which the French soccer star apparently joked about former leader Mao Zedong.
“Our company firmly opposes and implements a zero-tolerance policy towards any behavior that offends national sentiments,” beverage giant Dongpeng said in a statement, adding that “with immediate effect, we are terminating all cooperation with Kylian Mbappé.”
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Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, also cut ties with the Real Madrid and France striker.
“With immediate effect, our company terminates all cooperation with Kylian Mbappé,” Mengniu said in a statement.
“Mengniu firmly opposes and maintains a policy of zero tolerance for any words or actions that may hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,” it added.
The announcements came after a video surfaced online in which Mbappé said the funniest internet meme he had seen was his face photoshopped onto that of “some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.
This was an apparent reference to a meme of Mbappé superimposed on an image of Mao, one of several images using the face of the footballer and other historical figures.
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The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified by AFP Fact Check.
“Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe” was the top trending topic on Chinese social media site Weibo.
Mbappe, 27, lost to Harry Kane for the Ballon d’Or on Monday.
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