Real Madrid apologise to Chinese people after Mbappe's Mao 'dictator' comment
Real Madrid said Mbappé’s remarks hurt Chinese fans as three brands ended deals and state broadcaster China Media Group suspended La Liga coverage.
- 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.
255 Articles
255 Articles
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 Zedong
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 Kylian Mbappé's comments about the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
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 […]
In the end Real Madrid also had to bend to China. Tuesday, in the corridors of the club, the line was still that of freedom of expression: the case Kylian Mbappé did not directly concern the company and would not have had consequences on trade relations. Less than twenty-four hours later, the position has changed. And the [...] The article The Real Madrid bends in Beijing: the millions at stake behind the public apologies to the Chinese people a…
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