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Kylian Mbappé faces China backlash as major brands cut ties over Mao meme controversy

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 27/10/2026, 16:01:23 UTC.

Briefings

Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid's star forward, reportedly faces backlash in China after a video surfaced where he joked about Mao Zedong. Two major Chinese brands have reportedly cut ties with him following the incident, marking a significant shift in his commercial standing in the region.

Key points

• Kylian Mbappé, a Real Madrid forward, reportedly dropped by two major Chinese brands after a video circulated online showing him joking about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
• The incident occurred in October 2026, and the brands' decision to cut ties follows the viral spread of the joke video.

Context

Football superstar Kylian Mbappé is a familiar face across China but that could soon change. The Real Madrid forward has reportedly been dropped by two major Chinese brands after a video circulated online in which he appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to reported brand actions and a single video incident; specific brand names are not identified, and the extent of the backlash remains unverified.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 28/10/2026, 05:44:54 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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