Mbappe apologises after Mao comment sparks Chinese backlash and broadcast bans
French football captain Kylian Mbappe issued an apology for a joke referencing Mao Zedong, prompting China to suspend La Liga broadcasts and sever brand partnerships.
French striker Kylian Mbappe apologized on Tuesday after a video interview in which he joked about an internet meme that depicted his face on a figure described as a Chinese dictator, widely interpreted as a reference to Mao Zedong. The comment triggered a wave of criticism on Chinese social media and led to the suspension of La Liga matches on state television.
“My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset,” Mbappe said in a statement released in French, Chinese and English.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing that the government “takes seriously the apology the individual concerned has made.”
La Liga expressed regret over the incident, while several Chinese companies, including beverage maker Dongpeng and dairy firms Mengniu and Milkground, announced they had ended their partnerships with the player. State broadcaster CMG also halted the transmission of La Liga matches.
Chinese social-media platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo froze or banned Mbappe’s accounts for violating platform rules, and some users posted hostile remarks. Offline, Adidas stores in Beijing no longer displayed Mbappe-branded merchandise, though unofficial items remain available on e-commerce sites.
State media previously praised Mbappe as a “footballing sensation,” but the episode underscores the sensitivity of political references in China and the potential commercial repercussions for foreign athletes.