Scandal in the Asian market: Chinese giants terminate contracts with Mbappé

French Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé is facing a reputational crisis in Asia after two major Chinese brands officially terminated multimillion-dollar contracts with the footballer.

Details: According to sports outlet footmercato, the controversy was sparked by the player’s reaction on social media, where the forward publicly said he liked a meme comparing him to Mao Zedong. The incident triggered a wave of outrage in Chinese society, prompting beverage manufacturer Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu to immediately end all commercial cooperation with the player.

The simultaneous loss of two key commercial partners has dealt a serious blow to the French star’s marketing standing in the Asian market. The forward’s representatives have yet to issue an official statement, hoping to smooth over the misunderstanding with the Asian audience through diplomatic channels.

It is worth noting that Kylian Mbappé consistently ranks among the three most financially successful footballers on the planet, thanks to his contract with Los Blancos and numerous global advertising partnerships. However, the strict corporate ethics of brands in China traditionally leave no room for provocative statements or ambiguous historical allusions, which instantly led to the termination of business ties with a global superstar.

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