Kylian Mbappe Loses Chinese Sponsorships Following Controversy Over Mao Meme Remarks
French footballer Kylian Mbappe faced backlash in China after a viral video showed him apparently joking about a meme depicting him as a 'Chinese dictator,' referencing former leader Mao Zedong. In response, three major Chinese brands—Dongpeng Beverage, Mengniu Dairy, and Milkground—terminated their partnerships with Mbappe. The video’s authenticity remains unverified. Chinese authorities and social media users expressed strong disapproval, emphasizing respect for national sentiments and Mao's legacy. The controversy also affected media coverage, with reports of La Liga broadcasts suspended in China.
First-hand measurement across 6 sources
We measured how 6 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is negative (36/100). Lens Score 37/100.
Outlets measured: thetelegraph, businessstandard, indiatoday, thehindu, economictimes, hindustantimes. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (32–38/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
hindustantimes broke this story on 27 Oct, 04:06 am. Other outlets followed.