Soccer star Kylian Mbappé apologizes for remark about ‘Chinese dictator’
The backlash led three Chinese sponsors to end deals and prompted broadcasters to suspend La Liga matches, officials and companies said.
- Kylian Mbappé apologized for comments about Mao Zedong that offended people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.
- Three Chinese companies ended their sponsorship deals with the soccer star following the controversy.
- The companies condemned his remarks, saying they opposed words or actions that hurt national sentiment.
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815 Articles
Barcelona. The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, stated that he remains in constant communication with the Chinese authorities and expressed his willingness to travel to the Asian country, following the controversy provoked by the statements of Kylian Mbappé, a footballer from Real Madrid, about the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
A Mao joke flies football star Kylian Mbappé around the ears. The striker, his club and the league apologise. But China is going through the announced boycott. The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has remained at its announcement and did not broadcast the Spanish league game of Real Madrid at Racing Santander (3:0 for Madrid), as reported by the BBC. The reason for this is the eclat around French national player Kylian Mbappé. The attacker of Real…
Video. Mbappé’s ‘Chinese dictator’ comment: How do Chinese people react?
Video. Kylian Mbappé has apologised after remarks about a meme depicting him as Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked backlash in China. At least three Chinese companies have ended brand deals with the football star, while the controversy has drawn a response from China's Foreign Ministry.
Mbappé apologized, but China's CCTV is still not showing La Liga after three sponsors dropped him
Kylian Mbappé's comment about a meme involving Mao Zedong triggered three sponsorship cancellations, removed his jerseys from a Beijing Adidas store and led CCTV to suspend La Liga broadcasts in China.
European soccer’s apology to China
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has never been shy about politics. In June 2024, ahead of France’s snap parliamentary elections, the France captain warned that “the extremes are at the gates of power.” During this year’s FIFA World Cup, fans dressed him up online as a dictator. Last month, he told
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