French football star Kylian Mbappé has faced growing backlash in China after an online clip appeared to show him laughing at a meme comparing him to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Several Chinese brands have ended their partnerships with the Real Madrid forward amid public criticism.

The clip reportedly comes from The Bridge, a talk show hosted by Mbappé’s Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. In the unverified footage, Mbappé describes a meme that makes him laugh before a picture resembling Mao appears with his face superimposed on it. He does not name Mao directly but says he “uses [the meme] with friends all the time”.

The meme draws on Mbappé’s nickname, “the dictator”, which refers to his influence on the football field. However, the joke has angered many Chinese social media users, for Mao remains a sensitive political figure.

The controversy gained momentum on Monday after Chinese football forum Dongqiudi called the remarks “inappropriate” and said they “hurt the feelings of Chinese people”. The forum also said it was “unable to translate” his comments, describing them as “offensive to China and the Chinese people”.

Chinese users have called for a boycott of Mbappé and Real Madrid. Some have questioned how the footballer could benefit from the Chinese market while making remarks they consider offensive. Others have asked for clarification, as some circulating clips blur the meme and the disputed words.

Dairy producer Mengniu said it “firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”. Drinks company Dongpeng also stated, “Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments.”

According to Chinese media, state broadcaster CCTV will stop showing La Liga matches, while its news applications will no longer feature content related to Mbappé. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “We have noted the relevant reports. Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”

Mao founded the People's Republic of China in 1949. His rule included the Great Leap Forward, which caused a famine that killed tens of millions, and the Cultural Revolution, a violent campaign against people seen as threats to Communist rule. Despite this history, the Communist Party continues to present him as a national icon, making jokes about him particularly sensitive.

Mbappé has previously acknowledged the darker side of memes about his nickname. In a September interview with France Football, he said they “sometimes reveal a lack of political and human awareness among people”.

“There's a side that's a bit less funny, because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history,” he said. “Being compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions upon millions of people miserable... I don't think I've done that in my life.”