Major Chinese brands drop Mbappé as backlash grows over Mao joke

Even China's foreign ministry has weighed in, with spokesperso Lin Jian: "We have noted the relevant reports. Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society."Neither Mbappé nor the The Bridge have commented on this yet. It's unclear when the interview was broadcast but Chinese football forum Dongqiudi drew attention to the comments on Monday night in a statement, saying they were "inappropriate" and "hurt the feelings of Chinese people".A backlash quickly ensued online, with some users criticising Mbappé – who is hugely popular in China and has big endorsements - of "profiting from the Chinese market yet making remarks that offend the Chinese public"."International public figures, in particular, should show greater respect and sensitivity, as national sentiment must never be taken lightly," read another comment on Weibo.Mao founded Communist China in 1949 and ruled through tumultuous decades in the 1960s and 1970s. His attempt at rapid industrialisation, which he called the Great Leap Forward, led to a famine that killed tens of millions. Then came the Cultural Revolution: a violent purge of any...