Mbappe apologises after comment about Chinese leader sparks sponsor fallout
French footballer Kylian Mbappe issued an apology for a remark that was interpreted as referencing a Chinese dictator, leading Chinese brands to terminate their contracts with him and prompting La Liga to issue a statement.
Kylian Mbappe said his comment about a meme that placed his face on "some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator" was "ill-judged" and expressed regret for hurting people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. The statement, posted in French, Mandarin and English, added that he respects the Chinese people and their history.
The video, recorded in April and circulated by a French football podcast, led two Chinese sponsors – drinks maker Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu – to end their agreements with the player. Dongpeng said it has a zero-tolerance policy toward behaviour that offends national sentiments.
La Liga also issued an apology, stating that Mbappe’s remarks were made in a personal capacity and do not represent the league. President Javier Tebas said the organisation is working with partners in China to mitigate the situation.
Chinese state media noted that jokes about Mao Zedong remain a taboo and highlighted the incident as a reminder of the limits of celebrity influence. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that words that hurt Chinese people will face broad opposition.
The controversy has resulted in the removal of Mbappe-related advertisements and the suspension of broadcasts of La Liga matches on Chinese state television.