Mbappe's words infuriated the Chinese. Companies are ending collaborations

In China, making jokes about Mao Zedong is considered disrespectful, leading to backlash against Kylian Mbappé. Two companies, Dongpeng and Mengniu, terminated their sponsorships with the French football star after he commented on a meme featuring his face superimposed on Mao's. The companies emphasized their zero-tolerance policy towards actions that offend national sentiments. Mbappé's remarks sparked outrage on Chinese social media, with calls for the removal of his image from products. This incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding political topics in China, as foreign athletes have faced similar repercussions for controversial statements in the past.