French footballer Kylian Mbappé lost two major sponsorships in China on Tuesday, according to reports by France 24. Companies Dongpeng and Mengniu announced the end of their partnerships with the forward. The decision followed the circulation of a video where Mbappé allegedly joked about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, an episode considered offensive to national sentiment.

The two companies issued strong statements, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy. Dongpeng stated that it opposes behavior offensive to national sentiments, thus ending cooperation. Mengniu also highlighted its stance against actions that harm the Chinese people, severing ties. The statements reflect adherence to local cultural values.

The controversial video shows Mbappé describing a meme where his face was photoshopped onto that of 'some guy – I think he's a Chinese dictator'. The statement was interpreted as a reference to a meme superimposing his face on an image of Mao Zedong. France 24 specified that the video's authenticity was not immediately verified by AFP Fact Check.

The reaction in China was significant: 'Dongpeng Beverage terminates cooperation with Mbappé' became the top trending topic on Weibo. The 27-year-old Mbappé lost the Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane on Monday. The incident highlights the sensitivity of political and historical issues in commercial relations.