Chinese netizens have called on French football star Kylian Mbappé to apologize over his erroneous remarks about China in an interview that sparked widespread criticism, as at least three Chinese companies have terminated their cooperation with the Real Madrid forward and media platforms have taken out content related to the footballer.
The hashtag #MbappeStillOwesAnApology has gained traction on social media platform Sina Weibo, amid growing calls for the Real Madrid forward to apologize for his remarks about China.
"Mbappé is the captain of the French national team and Real Madrid's star player, yet he has shown no respect for other countries' history and great figures. This is deeply disappointing," a Chinese user posted on Sina Weibo, drawing many likes. "If he chose to make such remarks, he must also bear the consequences."
Dongpeng Beverage Group announced on Tuesday that it would terminate all cooperation with Mbappé, saying it firmly opposed and had zero tolerance for conduct that hurts national sentiments.
"Our company firmly opposes and maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward any actions that hurt the national sentiments of the people. Effective immediately, we are terminating all cooperation with Kylian Mbappé," the company said in a statement.
Chinese dairy giant Mengniu also decided to terminate its cooperation with the French forward. "Mengniu firmly opposes and has zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people," the Mengniu statement reads.
Cheese-making company Milkground also announced on Tuesday that it would end all cooperation with Mbappé, saying it firmly opposes and has zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.
The commercial fallout came amid a broader response from Chinese media platforms and brands.
RedNote, a Chinese social media platform that had a cooperation contract with Mbappé in 2024, said Tuesday that it was reviewing and removing related content and materials.
News apps operated by state broadcaster CCTV have also removed content related to the French striker. Sources at China Media Group, CCTV's parent organization, confirmed that the group had suspended broadcasts of matches involving La Liga and Mbappé, Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper reported Tuesday.
International brands such as Dior, On and Hublot have also removed their Mbappé-related content on Sina Weibo.
Mbappé's accounts on RedNote and Sina Weibo can no longer be followed, with both platforms displaying a notice stating that the accounts have been "muted for violating relevant community rules."
The decisions followed mounting criticism on Chinese social media after an interview featuring Mbappé circulated online.
The backlash intensified late on Monday, when Dongqiudi, a major Chinese football news and community platform, issued a statement saying that it would not translate the interview because the footballer's remarks had hurt the feelings of Chinese fans and Chinese people.
The Dongqiudi statement prompted further criticism of Mbappé, with users questioning his conduct and calling on Real Madrid to address the controversy.
One highly upvoted comment questioned why Real Madrid players repeatedly found themselves embroiled in controversies, referring to defender Dean Huijsen's incident involving offensive content about Asians in February and the club's social media post in August referring to flood victims in the Himalayas. The latter wording also drew criticism from Chinese users over the omission of China's name in the reference.
Commentary in Chinese media also questioned the conduct of public figures seeking commercial opportunities in China while making remarks perceived as disrespectful to Chinese people.
"The Chinese market embraces the world with open arms, welcoming celebrities, athletes, businesses and brands from all countries to share in its development opportunities," Jimu News said in a commentary.
However, the outlet argued that the market had no place for "two-faced" figures who abandoned their principles for profit or "opportunists" who spoke recklessly for personal gain. It questioned how anyone could expect to benefit from endorsement deals in China while treating the feelings and beliefs of Chinese people as a joke in interviews.
"The greater a football star's influence, the more mindful they should be of their words and actions. Outstanding performances on the pitch do not give anyone the privilege to cross the line without regard for others. Respect must be mutual," Zhu Meng, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times.
"Once that basic principle is abandoned, even the brightest star power cannot offset the harm caused by their remarks, and they must be prepared to face the consequences."
The controversy originated from an interview published by football-focused online show The Bridge. Discussion of an internet meme featuring Mbappé drew criticism in China, where online users questioned the appropriateness of his comments and their implications for Chinese fans.
