Kylian Mbappé, the French football star, drew criticism after mentioning in an interview that one of his favorite meme images features his face superimposed over that of Mao Zedong, China's former leader. Following public backlash from Chinese internet users, several Chinese brands, including Mengniu, Dongfeng Beverage, and Milkground, issued statements terminating their collaborations with Mbappé, citing hurt to Chinese sentiments. The controversy arose when Mbappé, during an interview, said that the funniest meme for him is one where his face has been substituted for that of Mao Zedong. This led to widespread condemnation online, with platforms like "WonderBall" releasing statements that his remarks offended and harmed Chinese feelings.
Mengniu and Dongfeng Beverage promptly halted their partnerships with Mbappé, expressing staunch disapproval of actions that insult national feelings. "WonderBall," one of Dongfeng's subsidiaries, also retracted its collaboration following Mbappé's comment. The fallout from the interview text's circulation led to vigorous criticism, with many internet users showing no tolerance for insulting national figures. Notably, "WonderBall" and other brands quickly severed ties, with Mengniu stating it would zero-tolerance any injury to Chinese sentiments.