Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid face economic fallout in Asia after a comment about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong prompted state media to suspend La Liga broadcasts and triggered the cancellation of commercial partnerships.
During the program, the French forward discussed internet memes, pointing to a digital montage that superimposed his face onto a Chinese dictator, whom he identified as Mao Zedong. The remark quickly drew sharp condemnation across mainland China, where imagery and references to the founder of the People’s Republic remain sensitive.
Sponsor Cancellations and State Media Blackout
The backlash translated into immediate corporate decoupling. Dairy producer Mengniu, beverage brand Dongpeng, Eastroc Beverage, and Shanghai Milkground all severed commercial ties with the player, as detailed by RaiNews and the Corriere della Sera. Brands invoked a zero-tolerance policy for statements that injure national sentiments. Luxury houses including Dior, Adidas, and Hublot also pulled promotional content from Chinese platforms, with retail inspections in Beijing confirming that Mbappé’s name had been removed from official club shirts on display, according to Milano Finanza reporting.
Government reaction followed swiftly. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated during a briefing that any action hurting the feelings of the Chinese people meets the unanimous rejection of the entire society, as noted by Milano Finanza. State-backed television networks subsequently suspended the broadcast of Spanish league fixtures, cutting off a key distribution channel in the region.
Official Apologies and Ongoing Economic Stakes
In an effort to stabilize relations, Mbappé issued a public apology. “I apologize to everyone who was offended by my words. It was absolutely not my intention. I have profound respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” the player stated, per Milano Finanza. La Liga president Javier Tebas also intervened, pursuing diplomatic contacts with the Chinese ambassador to reverse the broadcast ban.
Real Madrid subsequently published an official club statement expressing regret for the distress caused and emphasizing the club’s long-standing ties with millions of Asian supporters. Despite the outreach, Chinese media authorities have not lifted the suspension on league broadcasts.
The standoff threatens a critical revenue stream for the Spanish club. According to Marca reporting cited by Virgilio, between 10% and 15% of Real Madrid’s total merchandising revenue originates from the Chinese market, making the unhindered sale of replica shirts featuring the club’s marquee signing a vital commercial pillar under club president Florentino Pérez.
Context of the Controversy
The controversy is born from an exchange on the podcast “The Bridge”, hosted by teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. During the ceremony, Mbappé lost the Ballon d’Or to English player Harry Kane by a narrow margin, appearing visibly disappointed. Just hours after missing out on the award, the forward faced the fallout from the remarks regarding Mao Zedong, whom he had described during the interview as a Chinese dictator. Even state media omitted any mention of Mao Zedong, reporting instead that the player had made inappropriate comments about China
. Accounts for the 27-year-old footballer on Weibo and Xiaohongshu—also known as RedNote—where he boasts a combined following of over two million users, were subsequently blocked.
China Mengniu Dairy, one of the country’s largest dairy producers and an official FIFA World Cup sponsor, also terminated its relationship with the Real Madrid forward. Earlier in the year during the World Cup, advertisements featuring AI-generated images of Mbappé drinking a Dongpeng sports drink had been regularly broadcast across China. Some users labeled the remarks attributed to the player a violation of a red line, demanding that his image be removed from beverage packaging. Dongqiudi, one of China’s major football portals, likewise condemned the statements as offensive to China, its citizens, and supporters.
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