Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has apologised after describing former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a “Chinese dictator” during an interview, prompting criticism from Chinese authorities and companies.
The controversy followed an appearance on The Bridge, where Mbappe was asked about his favourite meme. He referred to an edited image showing his face on Mao Zedong, although he did not initially name the former leader.
“My favourite Mbappe meme? The one where they put my face on a Chinese dictator (Mao Zedong). That really makes me laugh; I use it with my friends all the time,” he said.
The remarks reportedly angered Chinese authorities and businesses because of the description of Mao Zedong, who played a pivotal role in the country’s history.
Chinese beverage company DongPeng ended its sponsorship agreement with Mbappe after the comments. Several Chinese media organisations also reportedly said they were planning to stop broadcasting La Liga matches in protest.
La Liga president Javier Tebas condemned Mbappe’s remarks and apologised for the offence caused. He said the league would work with Chinese officials and its partners to address the dispute.
“From LALIGA, we deeply regret the statements made by Kylian Mbappe that have caused discomfort and offence in China. We understand the harm caused and, on behalf of LALIGA, I wish to convey our sincere apologies to the Chinese people.
“For many years, we have built a relationship of respect, trust, and cooperation with China, its authorities, its sports institutions, its audiovisual operators, and millions of fans of Spanish football. We are taking the measures within our reach and working directly with our partners and interlocutors in China to overcome this situation,” Tebas said in a statement.
As pressure increased, Mbappe released his own statement acknowledging that his words had affected people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
He apologised to anyone who had been offended and said the comment was not intended as a slight against Mao Zedong or the Chinese people.
“During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” Mbappe said.
