Soccer star Mbappe cancels Chinese advertisements amid controversy over 'caricaturing Mao Zedong'

(Beijing = Yonhap News) Correspondent Jeong Seong-jo = Chinese companies have begun to cancel advertising contracts with famous French soccer player Kylian Mbappe (27, Real Madrid), who was embroiled in controversy for ridiculing Mao Zedong (1893-1976).

According to local Chinese media on the 27th, in an interview with a French media outlet the previous day, Mbappe was asked what was the funniest meme (online trending content) created using his face. He answered, "It's my face composited onto the face of the Chinese dictator (Mao Zedong)," and "I often use that meme when I play games with my friends."

It is known that Mbappe has often been the target of 'dictator memes' on social media in the past.

Because of his strong-willed image, humorous posts that combined Mbappe's face with those of authoritarian rulers or soldiers from around the world were often circulated.

The appearance of a composite image of Mao Zedong is not new, but with Mbappe's remarks the previous day, controversy regarding the issue spread on Chinese social media until today.

On Chinese social media, many criticisms of "hurting national sentiments" were noticed, and Chinese brands such as Mengniu, a famous milk manufacturer, Dongfeng Beverage, Busuira, and Milk Ground, issued statements one after another, announcing that they would stop cooperating with Mbappe.

State-run China Central Television (CCTV) stopped broadcasting Mbappe-related games from the previous day, and also took down all advertisements featuring Mbappe.

The Chinese government also spoke out. In response to a question about the Mbappe issue at a regular briefing on the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun raised his voice, saying, "Words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with common ostracism from all walks of Chinese society."