Chinese brands stop collaboration with Mbappé after joke about Mao Zedong

Kylian Mbappé discussed his favorite meme involving his face on a dictator's body, leading to backlash from Chinese companies. Following his comments, Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground ended their partnerships with him. The meme, which has circulated for years, reflects ongoing humor about Mbappé's image, but he acknowledges the serious implications of such portrayals. Companies cited a zero-tolerance policy for actions that offend the Chinese public, as jokes about Mao are considered disrespectful in China. Mbappé previously expressed understanding of the humor but also highlighted the historical damage caused by dictators.