Several Chinese brands dropped French footballer Kylian Mbappe as backlash grew over alleged comments about Mao Zedong. BBC News and The Guardian reported the Tuesday moves. Sports drink giant Dongpeng and dairy firm Mengniu ended their deals with the France captain.

Mbappe reportedly referred on a French talk show to a meme with a Chinese dictator. A clip showed his face on an image tied to Mao. Chinese social media erupted. Brands said the remarks offended national sentiments.

Mbappe had not issued a full public apology on the early pages. French media said the joke was meant as a meme reference, not a political speech. Chinese state media amplified the anger. Sponsors moved quickly once the clip spread.

Global athletes often face brand risk when remarks hit sensitive history in China. Past stars have lost deals over Taiwan, Tibet, or wartime topics. The pages did not list the value of the canceled contracts.

What we know: Dongpeng and Mengniu dropped Mbappe after the Mao meme backlash.
What we don't: Whether other Chinese sponsors will follow, and whether Mbappe will apologize.