Chinese Companies End Partnerships With Kylian Mbappé After Reported Mao Comments
Chinese companies are ending their partnerships with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé after he made comments that reportedly identified Mao Zedong as a dictator. Mbappé's advertisements are displayed throughout China.
Harlingen Weslaco Brownsville McAllen, TX, October 27, 2026 —
Chinese companies are ending their partnerships with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé after comments attributed to him reportedly identified Mao Zedong as a dictator, according to the information provided.
Mbappé’s advertisements are displayed throughout China, but the summary does not identify the companies ending their partnerships or specify how many agreements are affected. It also does not provide the date or setting of the comments, the words he used, or details about when the partnership decisions were made.
The characterization of the remarks is reported rather than presented with a direct quotation. No statement from Mbappé, the companies involved, or their representatives was included in the available information. The specific reasons each company gave for ending its partnership were also not provided.
It is therefore unclear whether all of the companies’ advertising featuring Mbappé will be removed, or whether the reported decisions apply to particular agreements or campaigns. No information was provided about the financial terms of the partnerships or any response from the soccer star.
The available account establishes that companies in China are ending partnerships and that Mbappé advertisements are displayed across the country, but leaves the identities, timing and scope of the changes unspecified.
Story summarized from the original created by E. EDUARDO CASTILLO, Associated Press on www.valleycentral.com, see more information here.
Media gallery
