Video: Chinese man attacks truck billboard featuring Mbappé amid backlash over Mao remarks
Abdullateef Fowewe
A video circulating online shows a man in China physically attacking a truck carrying a large advertisement for a beverage brand that features French footballer Kylian Mbappé’s image.
The man kicks and strikes the side of the vehicle displaying the player’s face alongside the product branding.
The incident forms part of a wider wave of public anger in China after a clip emerged of Mbappé discussing an internet meme.
In the video from a French podcast, the Real Madrid and France star described as particularly funny a photoshopped image of his face placed on the body of “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator,” an apparent reference to Mao Zedong.
Mao remains a highly sensitive figure in China, and jokes or critical references to him are widely treated as taboo.
Within hours of the clip spreading, major Chinese brands including Dongpeng Beverage which had featured Mbappé in ads for its electrolyte drink and dairy company Mengniu announced they were ending their partnerships with the player, citing a zero-tolerance stance on remarks that offend national sentiments.
Chinese state media and platforms also reacted.
Broadcasts of La Liga matches involving Real Madrid were suspended, advertisements featuring Mbappé were pulled, and some of his social media accounts in China faced restrictions.
Videos of fans burning Mbappé jerseys and damaging other promotional materials have also appeared online.
Mbappé issued a public apology, stating that his comment was “ill-judged” and that he now understood it had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities.
He expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
Real Madrid and La Liga also apologised.
China’s Foreign Ministry later said it was taking the apology seriously.
