Kylian Mbappé Apologizes After Chinese Brands Drop Him Over Mao Zedong Remark

Kylian Mbappé Issues Apology After Chinese Brands Sever Ties Over Mao Zedong Comments

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has issued a public apology after major Chinese companies dropped him from commercial endorsement deals following viral social media clips in which he appeared to make light of Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China. The controversy immediately disrupted the player’s lucrative commercial footprint in East Asia, triggered boycotts on platforms like Weibo, and prompted state-backed broadcasters to halt coverage of his matches.

The backlash unfolded after a video circulated on X, showing Mbappé responding to a question about internet memes depicting his face superimposed on various historical and political figures. In the footage, the 27-year-old French international referred to a meme featuring his face on the blue-suited body of Mao as depicting “a guy- I think he was a Chinese dictator.” Satire or jokes concerning Mao, who died in 1976, remain a strict social taboo in China, where he is revered by many for winning the civil war and founding the People’s Republic of China in 1949, despite his legacy regarding the deadly industrialization policies of the Great Leap Forward.

Commercial Fallout and Brand Cancellations Across China

Corporate partners moved swiftly to terminate their agreements with the player. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground announced identical decisions on Tuesday, stating they opposed any words or actions that hurt national sentiment. Dongpeng emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior offending national feelings, while Mengniu—which previously featured Mbappé alongside Argentine star Lionel Messi—pulled his promotional material from subway stations and elevators nationwide. The hashtags “Dongpeng ends partnership with Mbappe” and “Several brands end partnerships with Mbappe” topped Weibo’s trending list. Social media platform RedNote also stated that its content partnership with Mbappé concluded on December 31 2024, and confirmed the removal of related promotional materials while restricting his account from accepting new followers.

Broadcasting Suspensions and La Liga Damage Control

State-backed media outlets quickly joined the institutional condemnation. China Media Group suspended broadcasts of matches in Spain’s La Liga and other games featuring Mbappé, demanding formal apologies from both the player and his club, Real Madrid. La Liga officials moved rapidly to protect their television business in the region. The Spanish league released a statement expressing deep regret over the offense caused to Chinese fans. State television also halted broadcasts of all La Liga events, mirroring historical precedents such as the 2019 suspension of NBA games following a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey regarding Hong Kong protests.

Public Apology and Official Government Response

Facing mounting commercial and diplomatic friction, Mbappé released a multi-language statement on Tuesday offering his remorse. “My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said. “I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the controversy during a regular briefing, stating that words and actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people naturally face joint opposition from all sectors of society. Meanwhile, Chinese consumers voiced anger across online platforms, with hashtags calling for boycotts and commercial blacklists trending prominently on Weibo.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Mbappé Controversy

Why did Chinese brands drop Kylian Mbappé?

Major corporate partners including Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground terminated their agreements after a video circulated online showing Mbappé referring to a meme of his face superimposed on Mao Zedong as a “Chinese dictator.” The companies cited a zero-tolerance policy toward actions that hurt national sentiment.

How did Spanish football authorities respond to the incident?

La Liga released a statement expressing deep regret over the offense caused to Chinese fans. State television also halted broadcasts of all La Liga events.

What has Kylian Mbappé said in response to the backlash?

Mbappé released a statement in French, Chinese, and English on Tuesday acknowledging that his comments were ill-judged and offering a sincere apology to everyone in China and Chinese communities worldwide whom his words upset.

What did Chinese government officials say about the remarks?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated during a regular press briefing that words and actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally face joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.

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