Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé faces an intensifying commercial and diplomatic backlash in China after lighthearted remarks about internet memes depicting him as a dictator went viral on social media, Nieuwsblad reported.
The Podcast Comment That Triggered the Backlash
The controversy stems from an appearance by the 27-year-old French star on The Bridge, a podcast hosted by his Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. During the broadcast, Mbappé was asked about popular online memes concerning him, which initially surfaced during a crisis at the Spanish club last season amid rumors that the forward held substantial influence over club policy, according to NOS.
Laughing during the interview, Mbappé discussed edited video footage circulating online. “The funniest one I find is a video of a man, I believe a Chinese dictator, with my face on it. I use that a lot with my friends,” Mbappé said.
The comments immediately drew sharp criticism online, as the player was referring to Mao Zedong and leader of the People’s Republic of China who died in 1976. VRT journalist and China specialist Veerle de Vos noted that while official Chinese history acknowledges Mao made major political and economic errors that caused widespread suffering, he remains revered as the architect of modern China who restored national pride after a century of humiliation. “The tone with which Mbappé makes light of this will have left an even bigger impression than his words,” De Vos said.
Chinese Brands and CCTV Boycott Mbappé
The fallout in the Chinese market proved swift and substantial. Chinese sports drink brand Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu both terminated their commercial partnerships with the player with immediate effect.
“Our company strongly opposes and implements a zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that hurts national feelings,” Dongpeng stated regarding the decision to scrap AI-generated advertising campaigns featuring Mbappé’s face.
State broadcaster CCTV escalated the boycott by removing matches featuring Mbappé from television broadcasts across China. Advertisements and promotional videos featuring the French international were likewise pulled from rotation, according to NOS reports.
Mbappé and La Liga Issue Formal Apologies
In response to the mounting crisis, Mbappé released a public statement addressing the controversy. “During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was unwise and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappé stated. “I apologize to everyone I hurt with my words. That was absolutely not my intention. I have a deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am truly sorry.”
La Liga also intervened to distance the Spanish football competition from the remarks, given China’s status as a major market for the league. La Liga president Javier Tebas issued an apology to protect commercial and institutional ties.
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
“From La Liga, we deeply regret the statements by Mbappé that have caused discomfort and insult in China,” Tebas stated. “We understand the damage that has been done and, on behalf of La Liga, I want to convey our sincere apologies to the Chinese people. For many years we have built a relationship of respect, trust, and cooperation with China, its authorities, its sports institutions, its audiovisual operators, and millions of fans of Spanish football.”
Tebas added that the league is taking all available measures and working directly with Chinese partners to manage the diplomatic and commercial fallout.
More on Kylian Mbappé
Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches following remarks by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe about Mao Zedong, state-owned China Media Group announces. pic.twitter.com/LGYgvZ1oN8
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