Mbappe apologises as Mao remark sparks China storm

French football star Kylian Mbappe has apologised after a viral video featuring his comments about Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked widespread criticism, prompting major Chinese brands to end their partnerships with him.

The controversy also prompted China Media Group (CMG) to suspend broadcasts of Spain’s La Liga matches, escalating the dispute despite apologies from Mbappe and the league.

In the video, the Real Madrid forward described a meme featuring his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator as one of the funniest internet memes he had seen. The remark was widely interpreted as referring to Mao, China’s founding leader.

Mbappe later expressed regret, acknowledging that his words had hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. He issued an apology in French, Chinese and English.

La Liga also expressed regret over the incident, clarifying that Mbappe’s remarks were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the league’s position. However, CMG insisted that Real Madrid must also issue an apology before further discussions could take place.

The controversy has had immediate commercial consequences. Chinese beverage company Dongpeng terminated its partnership with Mbappe, while dairy producer Mengniu and cheesemaker Milkground also announced that they were cutting ties with the French international.

The incident quickly gained traction on Chinese social media, where calls grew for companies to remove Mbappe’s image from their products. The footballer, previously popular among Chinese fans, faced a significant backlash.

China’s foreign ministry also commented on the controversy, stating that remarks considered offensive to the Chinese people would face widespread rejection.

The dispute echoes previous tensions between international sports figures and Chinese sponsors over politically sensitive issues. In 2019, the NBA faced a major backlash in China following a tweet supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, leading to suspended sponsorships and a temporary halt to television broadcasts.

The latest controversy has placed Mbappe under intense scrutiny, with his apology coming amid growing pressure from Chinese businesses, broadcasters and football supporters.