China defends brands’ withdrawal of sponsorship deals With Mbappé
The Chinese government has declared that the action taken against Kylian Mbappé by some major brands in China was in order. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated Beijing's position on Tuesday after a video featuring the French football star circulated online. "Any rhetoric or action that hurts the feelings of the Chinese people will […] China defends brands’ withdrawal of…
On Tuesday, the Chinese government expressed its disapproval of major brands withdrawing sponsorship deals with French football star Kylian Mbappé following a controversial video. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that any rhetoric or actions causing offense to the Chinese populace would be rejected across all sectors in China.
The incident arose from a French talk show question about Mbappé's favorite meme, to which he responded with a doctored image of the Chinese founding leader Mao Zedong. This altered depiction of Mbappé sparked controversy. Several Chinese companies, including dairy giant Mengniu, beverage maker Dongpeng, and cheese maker Milkground, have since ended their sponsorship agreements with the Real Madrid player.
Mbappé subsequently apologized, acknowledging that his "ill-judged" comment had hurt many individuals in China and Chinese communities worldwide, expressing deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
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