Mbappe apologises after Mao meme sparks backlash in China

Kylian Mbappe has apologised for “ill-judged” comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong after several brands ended partnerships with the Real Madrid forward.

Mbappe was reportedly speaking on French talk show The Bridge when he described his favourite meme as one showing “a guy, I think it’s a Chinese dictator”. He then laughed as the clip switched to an image of his face superimposed on a figure resembling Mao.

This is especially relevant in the case of antiemetics, drugs that How To Buy Tramadol Online are typically Buy Lyrica Without Prescription used to prevent nausea and vomiting. In the U.S., where lifestyle factors often lead to sleep deprivation, medical professionals are increasingly recognizing the need to educate patients about Ambien Overnight these Carisoprodol Online practices. It is crucial for healthcare Ambien Usa providers to be aware of these disparities and to guide patients toward available community resources that can Xanax Buy Without Prescription help them manage symptoms related to sleep inertia and palpitations. This monitoring is particularly important given that the elderly population may have multiple Order Valium Without Prescription comorbidities and be taking numerous medications, increasing the Klonopin For Sale Online chance of drug interactions and cumulative side effects. For example, physical therapy can Order Zopiclone Online help strengthen muscles and improve mobility, which can reduce Buy Prednisone Online Without Prescription pain over time. Conditions contributing to nerve compression Ambien Buy Without Prescription often include herniated discs, arthritis, Xanax Without Prescription or even repetitive motion injuries. For instance, a decrease in lean body mass can lead to higher plasma concentrations Carisoprodol No Rx of water-soluble medications, Clonazepam Safe while an increase in body fat may result in prolonged action of fat-soluble drugs. Each of these medications can have Tramadol Usa its side effects Buy Clonazepam Online Overnight and risks, which can be compounded by alcohol consumption. When GABA activity increases, it can lead to muscle relaxation and a corresponding decrease in heart rate, which Ambien Cheap may help ameliorate some of the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.

The meme is linked to a long-running joke in which Mbappe is called “the dictator” because of his influence in football.

“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappe said in a statement.

“I apologise to everyone my words have upset.”

La Liga also apologised, saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans”.

The original programme is no longer available on The Bridge’s YouTube channel, and it is unclear when the interview, hosted by Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, was broadcast. In clips shared online, Mbappe does not name Mao and says he “uses [the meme] with friends all the time”.

The controversy grew on Monday night after Chinese football forum Dongqiudi described the remarks as “inappropriate” and said they “hurt the feelings of Chinese people”. Clips and screenshots spread across Chinese social media, with some users calling for a boycott of Mbappe and Real Madrid.

Some posts blurred both the meme and Mbappe’s reference to “a Chinese dictator”. Dongqiudi said it was “unable to translate” the comments because they were “offensive to China and the Chinese people”.

Chinese supporters accused Mbappe of “profiting from the Chinese market yet making remarks that offend the Chinese public”. One Weibo comment said international public figures should show “greater respect and sensitivity”.

Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, said it had “a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”. Drinks company Dongpeng issued a similar statement.

State-owned newspaper The Global Times reported that CCTV news apps would not feature content about Mbappe and that CCTV would stop showing La Liga matches. Real Madrid are one of 20 clubs in the league and its most successful, with 36 titles.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”

By 14:00 local time on Tuesday, five of Weibo’s 10 leading trends concerned Mbappe. The hashtag “multiple brands terminate partnerships with Mbappe” was the most popular.

Mao founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949. His Great Leap Forward caused a famine that killed tens of millions, while the Cultural Revolution became a violent purge of perceived opponents. His death in 1976 preceded China’s opening to the global economy, but the Communist Party continues to present him as a national icon.

Mbappe has previously said such comparisons “sometimes reveal a lack of political and human awareness”. In 2024 he sued a French influencer and kebab shop owner over the use of his name on a sandwich. During the 2026 World Cup, France team-mate Ousmane Dembele called him “Mobut”, referring to Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, for three decades.