{
  "id": 16738217,
  "title": "Kylian Mbappé dropped by Chinese brands over ‘dictator’ comment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/kylian-mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-over-dictator-comment",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-27T10:38:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/kylian-mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-over-dictator-comment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese brands have ended their partnerships with French football star Kylian Mbappé after a video surfaced showing him seemingly mocking Mao Zedong. In the clip, which circulated widely on social media platform X, Mbappé was asked which internet meme featuring himself he found funniest. He responded by claiming it depicted himself as \"some guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator.\" The Chinese public considers jokes about Mao Zedong, the country's contemporary founder, to be highly disrespectful. Beverage producer Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu confirmed on Tuesday that they were concluding their agreements with Mbappé, though neither explicitly cited the video as the reason for their decision. Dongpeng stated in its statement that their firm \"firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behavior that offends national sentiments,\" while Mengniu declared that they were ending \"all cooperation with Kylian Mbappé with immediate effect.\" Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has suspended broadcasting matches from Spain's La Liga, according to Chinese media outlet The Paper. Mbappé, who is currently playing for Real Madrid in club football, has not yet commented on the matter at the time of publishing. The controversy emerged a day after England's Harry Kane surpassed Mbappé to win the Ballon d'Or, the most esteemed individual football award.",
  "summary": "French football star loses deals with drinks-maker and dairy company.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Mbappe dropped by two Chinese brands over video referencing Mao Zedong",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-dropped-by-two-chinese-brands-over-video-referencing-mao-zedong",
        "published": "2026-10-27T03:58:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Kylian Mbappé dropped by Chinese brands for ‘offending national sentiments’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/kylian-mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offending-national",
        "published": "2026-10-27T06:24:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Business",
        "title": "Major Chinese brands drop Mbappé as backlash grows over Mao joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/major-chinese-brands-drop-mbappe-as-backlash-grows-over-mao-joke",
        "published": "2026-10-27T07:15:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Major Chinese brands drop Mbappé as backlash grows over Mao joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/major-chinese-brands-drop-mbappe-as-backlash-grows-over-mao-joke-16725021",
        "published": "2026-10-27T08:01:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "City AM",
        "title": "Major Chinese brands drop Mbappe over Chairman Mao meme jokes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/major-chinese-brands-drop-mbappe-over-chairman-mao-meme-jokes",
        "published": "2026-10-27T09:37:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}