Mbappé faces massive Chinese blackout after controversial 'dictator' joke

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé is facing a severe professional crisis in China as state media and commercial partners distance themselves from the French captain. The backlash follows an interview on the talk show 'The Bridge,' where Mbappé discussed his favorite internet memes. The striker admitted that he frequently shares a viral image with his friends that features his face superimposed onto a portrait of a "Chinese dictator."

While Mbappé did not explicitly name the historical figure, the image is widely recognized as a parody of Mao Zedong. In China, satirical depictions of former leaders are strictly prohibited under national laws. The fallout was immediate; Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has reportedly suspended all broadcasts of La Liga matches and games featuring Real Madrid. Media reports indicate that the broadcaster has also scrubbed all advertising and video content related to the player.

Sponsorships collapse

The financial impact is mounting as several major Chinese brands have terminated their agreements with the player. Beverage giant Dongpeng, along with dairy firms Mengniu and Milkground, confirmed they have ended their partnerships. Dongpeng stated they have "zero tolerance" for actions that damage national sentiment. Social media platform Xiaohongshu also announced it is reviewing and removing content related to Mbappé, noting their official contract had already ended in late 2024.

"The one that made me laugh the most is the one where they put my face on a Chinese dictator."

Kylian Mbappé

The controversy has reached the highest levels of government. A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, Lin Jian, addressed the situation by stating that actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally face opposition from society. This incident adds to a string of recent tensions between Spanish football and China, following previous apologies from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona over sensitive political and cultural issues.

"Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition."

Lin Jian

Mbappé, who has been nicknamed "the dictator" by some in the football world due to his perceived influence at his previous clubs, previously addressed the meme culture in a September interview. He noted then that being compared to historical figures who caused misery was not something he took lightly, yet the recent footage suggests a more casual attitude toward the specific Chinese parody.