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Mbappé loses China sponsors over Mao meme joke
Energy drink maker Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu both ended deals with the France captain on Tuesday, and Dongpeng's exit topped Weibo; he'd also lost the Ballon d'Or.
Watch it as it aired: Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Brock Thunderson on this story, from BBN This Morning at 7:31 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Yahoo Sports's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by Yahoo Sports: “Kylian Mbappé loses major China sponsorship deals following Mao Zedong meme controversy”, with reporting from France 24, Forbes and AFP via The Daily Star.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 7:31 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Brock Thunderson.
- Topics: Kylian Mbappé, China.
- BBN covered this story before: Artemis III, Kane's Ballon d'Or, cartwheeling snakes (October 27).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Yahoo SportsKylian Mbappé loses major China sponsorship deals following Mao Zedong meme controversy
- France 24Kylian Mbappé loses two major China sponsorship deals over Mao Zedong joke - France 24 October 27, 2026 · facts used on air
- ForbesSoccer Star Mbappé Loses Chinese Sponsorship Deals Amid Mao Zedong Meme Backlash October 27, 2026 · facts used on air
- AFP via The Daily StarKylian Mbappe Chinese Sponsorship October 27, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorKylian Mbappé joked that a meme put his face on the body of quote, some guy, I think he's a Chinese dictator, and the energy drink maker Dongpeng and the dairy giant Mengniu both dropped him on Tuesday.

Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistSo he guessed right?

Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorDongpeng says it has a zero-tolerance policy on behavior that offends national sentiments.

Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorHe lost the Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane on Monday and the sponsors on Tuesday, that's a family in crisis, I'm telling you.

Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistTwo days, two losses, and a cheese company. He asked who the guy was, and the cheese company said, we know.
More Shorts
All videos →The story so far
- Kane primed to pip Yamal, Mbappe to Ballon d'Or glory · Yahoo Sports
- Star flops and slowing investment dent China's festival presence · Variety
- Kim Jong Un Makes Surprise Trip to China, Crosses New Bridge · WSJ
- Mbappe scores 100th Real Madrid goal in Clasico win · Yahoo Sports
- Harry Kane wins the Ballon d'Or in London · Yahoo Sports
- Artemis III, Kane's Ballon d'Or, cartwheeling snakes · Yahoo Sports
- Mbappé loses China sponsors over Mao meme joke (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · the Sports archive · all months


Photo: Troutfarm27 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bryan Berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: TonyTheTiger · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Bryan Berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Photo Courtesy of NYS Senate Media · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
