“My comment was ill-considered, and I now realize that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Kylian Mbappé stated on Tuesday, addressing a diplomatic and commercial fallout that escalated swiftly after a resurfaced video clip from the French talk show The Bridge went viral on Chinese social networks. In the clip, the Real Madrid forward was asked about internet memes and mentioned his image superimposed onto the body of what he described as a “Chinese dictator,” a reference widely understood to mean Mao Zedong.
State Broadcaster CCTV Halts LaLiga Broadcasts and Pulls Mbappé Commercials
The fallout reached state level when China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, announced on Tuesday that it was suspending the broadcast of all Spanish league matches and removing all commercial spots featuring Mbappé. The state network’s action followed an outcry that began Monday evening when the Chinese football forum Dongqiudi published a statement calling the player’s remarks “inappropriate” and “hurtful.” Screenshots of the video clip and the associated meme circulated rapidly across Weibo and Xiaohongshu, where users were subsequently blocked from following Mbappé’s accounts on both platforms.
Commercial Partners Sever Ties as Brands Cite National Sentiments
Corporate sponsors moved quickly to distance themselves from the French international. Food manufacturers Dongpeng and Mengniu, alongside the online platform Xiaohongshu, issued nearly identical statements on Tuesday announcing the immediate termination of their partnerships with Mbappé, demanding zero tolerance for actions and statements that violate national sentiments. The Swiss sportswear brand On, which signed Mbappé in September and counts China as its second-largest market, stated that it acknowledges the player’s apology, holds great respect for the Chinese people, and remains in dialogue with partners without offering further comment, according to 20 Minuten.
LaLiga President Meets Chinese Ambassador Amid Apologies
LaLiga Javier Tebas reacted strongly to the controversy, holding a meeting with China’s ambassador to Spain and offering a public apology on behalf of the organization. Tebas stated that LaLiga deeply regrets Mbappé’s remarks and is fully aware of the damage caused. The league announced plans to introduce a communication and awareness protocol for clubs and players designed to promote respect for different cultures. While the Chinese Football Association demanded a formal apology from both Mbappé and Real Madrid, the club declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
Financial Stakes for LaLiga and Real Madrid in the Chinese Market
The sudden boycott threatens revenue streams for Spanish football in one of its overseas markets. LaLiga earned more than 100 million euros per year in China between 2018 and 2023, according to figures confirmed by Tebas. The league previously secured a digital rights agreement with Migu, a streaming service of China Mobile, covering all 380 matches per season through 2030. While exact financial terms of the Migu contract have not been publicly disclosed, Spanish industry analysts estimated the value of the four-season agreement between 2026 and 2030 at 320 to 480 million euros total. Meanwhile, sports daily Marca reported that up to 15 percent of Real Madrid’s merchandising revenue stems from China, where Mbappé’s jersey has been a top seller and the club retains a 20 percent share of the player’s image rights.
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