Dongqiudi removes Kylian Mbappé after remarks on Chinese dictator
Kylian Mbappé lost the 2026 Ballon d’Or to England’s Harry Kane and faced the complete erasure of his name from the Chinese digital platform Dongqiudi, where he was replaced by the phrase “person does not exist” following a political controversy.
Dongqiudi Refuses to Translate Remarks About Chinese Dictator
Responding to a question about his favorite internet meme, the French forward remarked on a clip portraying someone he believed was a Chinese dictator, featuring an edited image of his face on Mao’s body in a blue suit. Dongqiudi had published a statement on Monday calling the player’s remarks unacceptable and announcing it would not translate them because they hurt the feelings of Chinese fans and the Chinese people.
State Television Bans and Commercial Fallout
The online retaliation mirrored heavy corporate and state-level sanctions across the region, while internet users flooded platforms like Weibo under trending hashtags such as “Dongpeng ends partnership with Mbappé,” “Several brands end partnerships with Mbappé,” and “Football fans boycott Mbappé.”
🚨 The Bridge Show has apologised to China and Kylian Mbappé. pic.twitter.com/J3Y6ZbSrMM
Al-Jazeera noted that China Central Television (CCTV) suspended the broadcast of La Liga matches and any fixtures featuring Mbappé, while also pulling all promotional videos and advertisements tied to the player. Commercial partners moved swiftly to distance themselves from the French star. Dongpeng Beverages and Mengniu Dairy officially terminated their sponsorship contracts with Mbappé, citing remarks that crossed lines regarding national symbols and public sentiment. Companies including beverage maker Eastroc and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech announced the immediate suspension of all cooperation with Mbappé, confirming their rejection of any words or actions offending the feelings of the Chinese people. In commercial campaigns, Mbappé had appeared in an advertisement for Dongpeng pronouncing a slogan in Chinese, and alongside Argentine football star Lionel Messi in an advertisement for Mengniu.
Mbappé Apologizes for Harming Chinese People
During an interview I recently conducted, I commented on a picture of me that was circulated,
Mbappé stated. This comment was unfortunate, and I realize now that it has harmed many people in China and among the Chinese community around the world.
The French star added: I apologize to anyone who felt offended by my words. That was never my intention at all. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.
Javier Tebas Apologizes to Protect La Liga Ties
La Liga president Javier Tebas echoed that sentiment in a public statement on the platform X, apologizing directly to the Chinese public on behalf of the league and its more than twenty professional clubs to protect long-standing regional broadcast and partnership ties. Tebas stated that La Liga fully understands and respects the sensitivity of the Chinese people, emphasizing that a single individual’s actions cannot be allowed to distort years of deep, strategic relations or harm the millions of Chinese fans and partners.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: FC Online China has REMOVED all promotional content featuring Kylian Mbappé.The game has also announced further adjustments following the recent controversy. pic.twitter.com/IYgbAQrLz0
Foreign Ministry Position and Market Realities
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the controversy by stating that statements and actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally face collective opposition across all sectors of society, as reported by Al-Jazeera. While global brands such as Lego indicated they were monitoring the situation, the immediate financial and broadcast penalties established a stark boundary for elite athletes operating within the major Asian consumer market, compounded by the profound social sensitivity surrounding Mao—who ruled China from 1949 until his death in 1976—within the country.
More on Kylian Mbappé
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Statement of apology from Kylian Mbappé regarding his comments involving China:"During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around… pic.twitter.com/URTylMA3z3
Public anger and resentment have erupted in China over Kylian Mbappé's remarks about Mao Zedong, the founder and icon of the People's Republic of China, resulting in millions of dollars in losses for the footballer.The player was asked about his favorite meme and said he…
@grok why are this drama? keep me updated on whats happening how it started and how its going, I want proof. let me know whats happening in the comment section