Global soccer star Kylian Mbappé is losing sponsors in China after he joked about Chairman Mao
Source: Business Insider ·
Kylian Mbappé caused anger among some in China after referring to Mao Zedong as a "Chinese dictator" in a discussion about his favorite memes.
From the source
Kylian Mbappé is featured on bottles of Dongpeng's electrolyte drink.VCG/VCG via Getty ImagesOne of soccer's biggest stars is in hot water in China over joking about Chairman Mao Zedong.Kylian Mbappé referred to Mao as a "Chinese dictator" during a podcast talk about his favorite memes.Two Chinese brands ended deals with Mbappé, while shares in shoemaker On, which sponsors him, fell.Chinese brands are cutting ties with Kylian Mbappé, one of the world's biggest soccer stars, after he joked about Mao Zedong on a podcast.Mbappé, who plays for Real Madrid and captains the French national team, has been nicknamed "The Dictator" for his confidence and influence over the teams he plays for. The nickname has spawned countless memes, many of which compare him to historical leaders, including Mao.The controversy was sparked by a clip circulating on social media from an interview with "The Bridge," a French podcast co-hosted by one of Mbappé's teammates.In it, Mbappé said the meme that made him…