Real Madrid apologise to Chinese people after Mbappe's Mao 'dictator' comment
- On Wednesday, Real Madrid and forward Kylian Mbappé issued formal apologies to the Chinese people for remarks about Mao Zedong that sparked fierce backlash across China.
- The controversy originated from a clip on French podcast The Bridge where Mbappé described a meme of himself as 'a Chinese dictator,' an apparent reference to Mao, the founding leader of Communist China.
- Major Chinese brands Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground terminated partnerships with the 27-year-old, while China Media Group suspended La Liga broadcasts and removed promotional materials.
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated Wednesday the government 'takes seriously' the apology, though remarks hurting national sentiment face 'joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.'
- This incident reflects a pattern established in 2019 when China suspended NBA sponsorship deals following a tweet by Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey, highlighting commercial risks in China's media environment.
266 Articles
266 Articles
State media and government platforms accuse the club of “double standards” and of taking almost 48 hours to apologize
The broadcaster China Media Group puts its threat and execution. It is a controversy that would have gone well Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid. The star...
Mbappé’s Own Goal on Chinese Repression
Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid, and La Liga apologized after Beijing condemned the soccer star’s description of Mao Zedong as a dictator. The controversy highlights China’s efforts to suppress criticism of Mao’s brutal legacy and the risks of Western businesses yielding to Chinese Communist Party pressure.
Real Madrid says Mbappé was wrong over Mao Zedong as China fallout continues
Spanish football club Real Madrid, as well as Spanish league bosses, were on Thursday waiting to see if their apologies had led to a thaw in relations with China following striker Kylian Mbappé's comments…
The Mbappe case over the Mao Zedong meme has escalated, with a Chinese state television station publicly rejecting Real Madrid's apology.
Real Madrid Apologizes for Kylian Mbappé’s “Ill-Judged” Comment to Repair Chinese Relations
A joke that went too far has put Real Madrid’s relationship with China under pressure. After Kylian Mbappé’s remarks about a meme depicting him as Chinese leader Mao Zedong triggered a backlash, the Spanish giants have issued a public apology, hoping to repair the damage to a relationship that extends far beyond football. In a […]
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