Kylian Mbappé faces China backlash as sponsors cut ties over viral meme

TOPSHOT - People walk past a bus featuring French football star Kylian Mbappe for Dongpeng Beverage Group's "Bushuila" electrolyte drink on a street in Shanghai on October 27, 2026. Kylian Mbappe was dropped on October 27 by two major brands in China after a video circulated online in which the French football star apparently joked about former leader Mao Zedong. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images)Jade Gao | Afp | Getty ImagesKylian Mbappé is facing growing fallout in China over remarks apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator, with sponsors dropping the French striker and Spanish football broadcasts disrupted.China’s state broadcaster CCTV has warned that Mbappé’s apology will ultimately be judged by his actions.“We will listen to his words, but watch his actions even more closely,” an unnamed China Media Group representative said on Oct. 27, urging Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga to learn from the incident and mend their ways.A day earlier, the broadcaster had suspended La Liga coverage and matches involving the French forward, while also pulling advertisements in which he appeared.His social media accounts on Xiaohongshu and Weibo were also subsequently muted, acc...