Mbappé’s ‘Chinese dictator’ comment: How do Chinese people react?

Kylian Mbappe, the French soccer star and captain of Real Madrid, faced intense backlash from Chinese authorities and companies after comments in an online interview suggested Mao Zedong, China’s founding leader, was a dictator. The incident led to at least three major Chinese brands — including Dongpeng, a drinks giant — terminating their partnerships with Mbappe on October 27, 2026. These companies cited "offending national sentiments" as the reason for cutting ties. Additionally, China’s state broadcaster CCTV and its parent organization, China Media Group, suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches featuring Real Madrid in response to the controversy. Mbappe later issued an apology, stating his comments were "ill-judged," but this did not prevent ongoing repercussions.