China accepted an apology from Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe after the French player made remarks mocking former leader Mao Zedong, an incident that triggered social media bans and the suspension of Spanish football broadcasts on state television, Al Jazeera reported.
The controversy began when a video interview featuring Mbappe aired on the French show The Bridge. During the clip, which has since been removed, Mbappe discussed being amused by an internet meme of his face digitally altered onto what he described as “some guy, think he’s a Chinese dictator,” an apparent reference to Mao. Mocking the former leader is considered taboo in China, where he is blamed by historians for millions of deaths.
China Accepts Mbappe Apology While Brands Drop Partnership
“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. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun addressed the situation during a regular briefing, stating, “We take seriously the apology the individual concerned has made.”
Despite the foreign ministry’s acknowledgment, the commercial fallout continued to expand. Chinese beverage giant Dongpeng, which ran advertisements featuring AI-generated images of Mbappe during the World Cup, announced it had scrapped its partnership with the player. Dairy firms Mengniu and Milkground followed suit by terminating their agreements with the 27-year-old French captain.
State Broadcaster Pulls La Liga Matches Off Air
CMG, the organization overseeing public broadcaster CCTV, decided to suspend broadcasts of Spain’s top-tier football competition, making it the second-richest football league to be pulled from Chinese television after England’s Premier League. La Liga issued a statement saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans.”
Online, the player faced intense backlash across multiple digital platforms. His accounts on Xiaohongshu and Weibo were frozen. Weibo administrators posted a notice stating that “the user has been banned from following due to violating laws or the Weibo Community Convention.” Global luxury brands Dior and Hublot also removed Mbappe-related content from their Weibo pages, according to local media reports.
CHINA RESPONDS TO MBAPPÉ'S APOLOGY.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Oct 28 that China "takes note" of Kylian Mbappé's apology for his earlier remarks about China.Respect for a nation's history is not a joke. Words have consequences.
Real Madrid Shirts Missing From Beijing Retail Shelves
Physical retail spaces also reflected the backlash. When AFP visited the Adidas flagship store in Beijing’s Sanlitun shopping district, Real Madrid shirts were available for sale, but none bore the striker’s name. However, unofficial jerseys, beanies, and caps featuring the player remained available on the retail app Taobao.
The situation mirrors previous diplomatic tensions involving international sports leagues and Beijing. In October 2019, China suspended sponsorship deals with the NBA and pulled games off state television for a year after Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protests.
State Media Outlines Standards for International Celebrities
The official People’s Daily addressed the wider effects of the incident in an opinion piece. “In this era of economic globalisation, an increasing number of celebrities are stepping onto the global stage, engaging with fans and business partners from diverse cultural backgrounds,” the newspaper stated. “Learning how to respect different nations and cultures is an essential lesson. Respecting the history, culture, social customs and national sentiments of others is a fundamental principle for cross-border interaction, a standard of conduct widely upheld by the international community.”
Dongpeng Ends Partnership After Kylian Mbappe Video Interview Remarks
Which specific show featured the remarks made by Kylian Mbappe?
The remarks were made during a video interview with the French show The Bridge, which has since been removed from public access.
How long did state television suspend NBA broadcasts in 2019?
China suspended sponsorship deals with the NBA and pulled games off Chinese television for a full year following a tweet by Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey in October 2019, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Which Chinese beverage company ended its advertising partnership with Mbappe?
Dongpeng ended its partnership with the Real Madrid player after previously running advertisements featuring AI-generated images of him during the World Cup.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has apologized for joking about a meme depicting him alongside Chinese leader Mao Zedong.“My comment was ill-judged,” he said, acknowledging that his words had hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.Three Chinese brands have… pic.twitter.com/K47lJd6xii
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