The Chinese have no sense of humor. Two Chinese companies end their collaboration with Kylian Mbappe after a video in which the footballer made a reference to their former leader

Before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Kylian Mbappe (27) was asked what his favorite meme was, as the Frenchman is mocked on social media through his authoritarian persona.

Mbappe’s answer was: “The one where they put my face on the body of a Chinese dictator (ed. Mao Zedong). It makes me laugh a lot; I use it all the time with my friends.”

Two major Chinese companies, Dongpeng and Mengniu, announced on Tuesday that they were ending their collaboration with Kylian Mbappe in response to Mbappe’s answer.

“Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that offends national sentiments. Effective immediately, we are ending all collaboration with Kylian Mbappe,” Dongpeng stated.

“Effective immediately, our company is ending all collaboration with Kylian Mbappe. Mengniu firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy toward any statement or action that hurts the feelings of the Chinese people,” Mengniu stated in a communiqué.

According to the Spanish press, Chinese state television has also suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and withdrawn advertisements featuring Mbappe.