Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has become the target of intense public fury across Chinese social media platforms following unverified clips from a French talk show. In the footage, the player purportedly references an internet meme comparing a figure resembling the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong to himself, remarking that he finds it amusing and uses it regularly with acquaintances. Although the original segment has been removed, screenshots and copies have rapidly spread, igniting widespread condemnation.

The fallout quickly escalated to the diplomatic and corporate spheres, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian asserting that actions and words hurting the feelings of the Chinese public will inevitably face opposition. Consequently, major Chinese enterprises, including dairy giant Mengniu and beverage maker Dongpeng, terminated their commercial partnerships with the French player, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward offenses against national sentiments. State broadcaster CCTV has also reportedly suspended La Liga match transmissions in response to the controversy.

Neither Mbappé nor the producers of the talk show have issued formal statements addressing the uproar, leaving the authenticity and context of the remarks open to question. Observers note that the incident highlights the severe commercial risks international public figures face when navigating sensitive historical and political topics within the Chinese market, where nationalist sentiments remain exceptionally potent.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk