Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has issued a public apology following widespread outrage in China over remarks he made referencing late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The controversy arose after clips surfaced online from the talk show The Bridge, hosted by Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni. In the video, Mbappe laughed while describing a meme that superimposes his face on an image of Mao with referring to the figure as a "Chinese dictator." The meme stems from a long-running joke in football circles labeling Mbappe a "dictator" due to his immense influence at the club level.
"My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world" Mbappé said in an official statement. "I apologise to everyone my words have upset." Spain’s La Liga also expressed regret over the offense caused.
The fallout was swift across China where open mockery of Mao Zedong remains taboo. Major Chinese sponsors with dairy giant Mengniu and beverage company Dongpeng, promptly terminated their endorsement deals also citing zero tolerance for actions that hurt national sentiment.
State broadcaster CCTV reportedly stopped featuring content related to the French striker and suspended La Liga broadcasts. China’s Foreign Ministry also weighed in stating that actions offending the Chinese public would naturally meet widespread opposition.
Despite Mbappe’s popular status and lucrative commercial footprint in China also the incident underscores the intense political sensitivities international athletes navigate in major overseas commercial markets.
