Why did AI turn Kylian Mbappé into a ‘dictator’? Strange kebab row fuels meme (Image via Getty)Kylian Mbappé’s face has recently appeared in hundreds of AI-generated memes showing him as a military ruler giving orders, leading armies, and controlling everything around him. What looks like a random internet joke actually has a surprising backstory. The viral “Dictator Mbappé” meme can be traced back to a dispute in 2024 involving a kebab shop owner in France. What started as a legal complaint over the use of Mbappé’s name for a sandwich slowly turned into one of the internet’s strangest football jokes, with AI creators taking the idea to increasingly absurd levels.How Kylian Mbappé’s dispute with Mohammed Henni sparked the memeThe story goes back to March 2024 when Marseille-based influencer and kebab shop owner Mohammed Henni received a legal notice linked to a sandwich named after Mbappé.Henni, who has more than two million followers on Instagram, had promoted a kebab using the footballer’s name. He also described the sandwich as being served in “bread as round as Mbappé’s skull.” The joke did not go down well with the player’s camp.Mbappé’s lawyers reportedly asked for the reference to be removed. The move immediately attracted attention online. Instead of quietly ending the matter, Henni publicly mocked the legal notice. In videos shared on social media, he questioned why a football star would focus on a sandwich joke and dismissed the legal action.That public exchange became meme material. Many social media users began joking that Mbappé was acting like a strict ruler who would not tolerate even the smallest criticism. The “Dictator Mbappé” nickname soon appeared across platforms, first as jokes and edited images and later as elaborate AI-generated videos.As AI tools became more popular, creators pushed the idea even further. Videos started showing Mbappé in military uniforms, directing troops, leading marches, and delivering speeches. Some clips even featured fictional national anthems and crowds saluting him, turning the joke into a full internet universe.Why the ‘Dictator Mbappé’ meme continued to grow onlineThe meme survived because it expanded beyond the kebab dispute. Online users began linking it to Mbappé’s image as one of football’s biggest stars and his strong presence on and off the pitch.Posts started joking that he controlled everything around him, from teammates and coaches to referees and football authorities. Clips from matches were edited to fit that narrative, while old football moments were given humorous voiceovers portraying him as a commanding leader.Several compilation videos labelled as Mbappé’s “best dictator moments” spread widely online. The joke became less about the original sandwich dispute and more about a fictional version of the player created by internet culture.Eventually, the meme became so popular that it reached Mbappé himself during a press conference. A reporter referenced criticism that he was too controlling within his teams and even mentioned the dictator joke directly.Mbappé made it clear that he was not amused. Responding to the question, he said, “This is a complete farce that you and stupid comedians like you share because you think you are funny.”His response only brought more attention to the meme. While many internet jokes disappear within days, this one kept growing because new AI-generated versions continued appearing online.More than two years after the kebab dispute first surfaced, the “Dictator Mbappé” meme remains one of football’s most unusual viral trends, showing how a disagreement over a sandwich unexpectedly evolved into a global internet joke.