Chinese company breaks contract with Mbappé after comments about Mao Zedong's `memes`

Chinese beverage company Dongpeng has terminated its contract with footballer Kylian Mbappé after he expressed amusement at memes comparing him to Mao Zedong. The company cited a zero-tolerance policy for actions that offend national sentiments, although it did not specify the incident leading to this decision. This follows a trend of controversies involving Spanish football clubs in China, including criticism of Real Madrid for a social media post. Additionally, Chinese state television CCTV has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and removed all advertisements featuring Mbappé. Other companies, including Mengniu and Milkground, have also ended their partnerships with the player, reflecting a broader backlash against perceived disrespect towards Chinese figures.