French football icon Kylian Mbappé issued a public apology on Tuesday following widespread backlash over remarks in which he referred to Mao Zedong as a Chinese dictator, a gaffe that immediately cost him several lucrative commercial partnerships in China.

Major Chinese brands, including dairy producer Mengniu and beverage giant Dongpeng, swiftly severed ties with the forward on Tuesday. The beverage manufacturer emphasized its strict opposition to any behavior that undermines national sentiment.

The diplomatic and commercial fallout originated from an appearance on the French sports podcast “The Bridge.” During the episode, Mbappé recounted what he considered the most amusing internet meme featuring his likeness, describing how his face had been digitally grafted onto what he vaguely recalled as a Chinese dictator.

Although the player stopped short of explicitly uttering Mao Zedong's name during the broadcast, the podcast video subsequently spliced in footage showing his face superimposed onto a portrait of the former Chinese leader.

The segment triggered immediate outrage across Chinese social media platforms. While “The Bridge” team appears to have deleted the clip from their official channels, duplicates continue to circulate widely on Reddit and YouTube.

Releasing a formal statement later that Tuesday, Mbappé walked back his comments, labeling them ill-judged and acknowledging that they caused pain to individuals throughout China and global diaspora communities, which he stressed was far from his original intent.

I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry, Mbappé wrote in a statement.

Which Companies Dropped Mbappé?

Dongpeng—also recognized as Eastroc—and dairy conglomerate Mengniu both confirmed on Tuesday that they were pulling the plug on their endorsement contracts with the athlete. In a briefing shared with the Beijing Daily, Dongpeng cited a zero-tolerance stance toward actions that compromise national pride. Mengniu echoed these sentiments, releasing an announcement stating it firmly rejects any rhetoric or conduct injurious to the dignity of the Chinese public. According to the Associated Press, cheese manufacturer Milkground, also known as Miaokelanduo, joined the exodus by terminating its association with the forward.

What Do We Know About Mbappé’s Annual Earnings?

Having claimed the Golden Boot as the top goalscorer in this year's FIFA World Cup campaign after leading his squad to the semi-finals, Mbappé secured the third position on the global ranking of soccer's highest earners. Published earlier this month, the financial projections place his total 2026 earnings at $100 million, broken down into $70 million from on-pitch contracts and an additional $30 million via off-field commercial ventures and endorsements. However, this accounting leaves out a major financial milestone achieved this year when he ended his long-term affiliation with Nike to partner with Swiss athletic apparel innovator On. The deal grants him equity in the publicly traded company, a strategic move mirrored by tennis icon Roger Federer on his path to billionaire status.

Addressing the growing uproar during a routine press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun remarked that statements and behaviors wounding the sentiments of the Chinese population will inevitably encounter united resistance from every corner of Chinese society.

The repercussions appear to extend beyond the individual player. The Spanish daily El País reported that China’s state television broadcaster, CCTV, halted transmissions of Spain's La Liga—the league housing Mbappé’s current club, Real Madrid. The blackout went live on Monday evening, though officials have yet to confirm the duration of the suspension. Furthermore, La Liga maintains a digital distribution agreement with China Mobile’s Migu platform, though the status of those broadcasts remains unconfirmed.