Kylian Mbappe appears to have built a rather unwanted digital footprint on the internet through the viral Dictator meme.
Mbappe, who himself reacted to the meme in a playful manner in a recent interview, has now found himself losing sponsors as well because of the same memes.
This is because multiple high-profile Chinese sponsors have pulled out after he made fun of depictions of him as Emperor Mao Zedong.
Chinese companies cut ties with Mbappe
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, several firms, including the Dongpeng beverage group and dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground, announced on Tuesday that they were ending their commercial cooperation with the Real Madrid star.
Dongpeng, through its main account and that of its Bu Shui La brand, released official statements on Weibo confirming the immediate severing of business ties.
The company cited “zero tolerance for behavior that hurts national feelings,” though it did not specify the exact reasons behind the decision.
Mengniu and Milkground soon followed suit, expressing their rejection of any conduct deemed hurtful to the feelings of the Chinese people.
It represents a significant commercial setback for Mbappe, whose image had been prominent across billboards, buses and elevators in Chinese cities, particularly during last summer’s World Cup.
Not only that, CCTV has decided to stop broadcasting La Liga in China, taking a firm stance over Mbappe’s comments.
Why the sponsors pulled out
The withdrawals came in direct response to comments Mbappe, who finished second in the race for the Ballon d’Or, made when asked about his favourite meme.
Mbappe walked away with nothing during the Ballon d’Or gala. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
“The one I laughed at the most is the one where they use my face as a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends,” the forward said.
The remark proved costly in a country where such satire is treated with the utmost seriousness.
A meme superimposing Mbappe’s face onto a portrait of former leader Mao Zedong had circulated widely online, and in China, mockery of former leaders or prominent Communist Party figures can be prosecuted under laws.
This is not the first time Spanish players and footballing entities have land themselves in troubled with China.
Real Madrid were criticised in September over a social media post referencing Nepal and Tibet, Barcelona apologised in April after a Taiwanese flag appeared on an academy-linked page.
Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen issued an apology earlier this year over content deemed offensive towards Asian citizens.