Real Madrid apologise to Chinese people after Mbappe's Mao 'dictator' comment
The club said it respects China after the remark sparked sponsor exits and led Chinese state media to suspend La Liga broadcasts.
- On Wednesday, China Media Group suspended La Liga broadcasts after Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe apologized for comments about Mao Zedong. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed they take the apology "seriously" but indicated potential further consequences.
- A clip from the French show "The Bridge" sparked controversy by showing Mbappe amused by a meme depicting his face on Mao Zedong. The Chinese public viewed the comparison as offensive, citing the former leader's role in the Great Leap Forward.
- At least three Chinese brands, including Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground, terminated partnerships on Tuesday. Social media platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo simultaneously banned Mbappe's accounts, citing violations of laws or the Weibo Community Convention.
- The China Football Association demanded a public apology, while La Liga stated it "deeply regrets the offence that Mbappe's recent comments have caused among Chinese fans." The league pledged a new communication protocol to prevent future incidents.
- This incident mirrors the 2019 fallout involving the NBA and Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey after he tweeted support for Hong Kong protests. Beijing routinely leverages economic influence to compel foreign entities to align with its political sensitivities.
211 Articles
211 Articles
Mbappe’s Real Madrid issues an apology to China
Real Madrid yesterday apologized to China for star striker Kylian Mbappe’s comments poking fun at Mao Zedong, after the star striker’s remarks sparked a social media storm and saw Spanish soccer yanked off state TV.Mocking former leader Mao — blamed by historians for millions of deaths — is taboo in
Real Madrid issues apology to China over Mbappe’s Mao remarks
Real Madrid has issued an apology to China over Kylian Mbappe’s controversial remarks about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, after the Spanish football club’s initial response failed to quell anger in China. In a statement published on its website on Wednesday, the club apologised to the Chinese people for “any discomfort” caused by the French footballer’s remarks, a day after Mbappe issued his own public apology. The apology came after Chine…
The Asian state consortium suspended the broadcasts of the Spanish tournament after considering unacceptable the apologies issued by the white directive. The controversy originated by the words of the French striker triggered an institutional fracture and the loss of key sponsorships.
His message adds to that of the French star on the eve, saying that the funniest meme he has ever seen on the Internet is the one in which his superimposed face appears on the body of “an ordinary guy,” who believed it to be “a Chinese dictator, ” in a
The controversy around Kylian Mbappé in China continues and even Real Madrid had to intervene.
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