{
  "id": 16800553,
  "title": "Kylian Mbappé sparks China backlash as three brands end sponsorship deals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/kylian-mbappe-sparks-china-backlash-as-three-brands-end-sponsorship",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T21:39:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euro Weekly News",
    "slug": "euro-weekly-news",
    "url": "https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/27/kylian-mbappe-sparks-china-backlash-as-three-brands-end-sponsorship-deals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kylian Mbappé finds himself embroiled in a diplomatic and commercial controversy following a joke involving an image of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The Real Madrid striker's comment sparked backlash in China, leading three companies to end their sponsorship agreements with Mbappé and state broadcaster CCTV to suspend coverage of LaLiga matches. The incident began when a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing a meme featuring himself as Mao Zedong, a figure widely regarded as controversial in China. Despite Mbappé's subsequent apology, acknowledging the ill-judged nature of his comment, the fallout has raised questions about the commercial consequences for the footballer and LaLiga's presence in the Chinese market. Chinese beverage and dairy companies, as well as CCTV, have withdrawn their partnerships with Mbappé, with the financial value of these agreements remaining undisclosed. The controversy also affects Spanish football's visibility in China, with CCTV suspending broadcasts of LaLiga matches involving Mbappé. LaLiga's president, Javier Tebas, expressed regret over the offence caused by Mbappé's comments and emphasized the league's commitment to resolving the situation. The episode highlights the sensitivity surrounding Mao Zedong in Chinese society and the potential impact on partnerships that may inadvertently cause offense.",
  "summary": "Kylian Mbappé has found himself at the centre of a diplomatic and commercial controversy after a joke involving an image […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Kylian Mbappé's joke referencing Mao Zedong sparks Chinese backlash",
    "Three brands end sponsorship deals with Mbappé and CCTV suspends LaLiga coverage",
    "Incident raises concerns about commercial impact on football and Chinese market"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Soccer star Kylian Mbappé apologizes for comments about Mao Zedong",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/soccer-star-kylian-mbapp-eacute-apologizes-for-comments-about-mao",
        "published": "2026-10-27T18:02:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}