Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is facing a severe backlash in China after a resurfaced video showed the French football star apparently joking about late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The controversy has resulted in canceled commercial contracts, frozen social media accounts, pulled retail merchandise, and the suspension of La Liga broadcasts across state television.
The incident centers on a clip purportedly filmed in April and shared by the French football podcast The Bridge before being circulated on social media. In the video, prepared for an online broadcast, Mbappe appeared to chuckle while mentioning that the funniest internet meme he had seen featured his face digitally altered onto that of a Chinese dictator. While he did not explicitly name Mao in the footage, the remark struck a sensitive nerve in China, where satire or jokes concerning Mao—who led the country from 1949 until his death in 1976—remain a strict social taboo.
The memes in question originated as online caricatures created by fans who superimposed Mbappe’s face onto military and political figures to illustrate his perceived influence over his former club, Paris Saint-Germain. In a previous interview with the French sports newspaper L’Equipe last month, Mbappe acknowledged that the European press had nicknamed him “the dictator,” noting that while some memes were humorous, others were less amusing given the historical damage caused by such figures. However, his apparent laughter at the internet imagery during the recent video clip crossed a line in China, where self-mockery involving the nation’s founding leader is viewed as an insult.
Chinese state media and online users reacted swiftly to the remarks. Platforms including Weibo and Xiaohongshu restricted Mbappe’s accounts, preventing new followers and displaying notices citing violations of community standards. State media outlets such as China Daily and the Global Times condemned the comments, with publications noting that many domestic users chose not to repeat the remarks because they were considered deeply hurtful.
The fallout quickly extended into the commercial sector. Dongpeng Beverage Group terminated its endorsement contract with Mbappe with immediate effect on Tuesday, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that offends national sentiments. Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, likewise severed ties with the player, who had previously enjoyed immense popularity and millions of followers in the country. Global brands including Dior and Hublot reportedly removed Mbappe-related content from Weibo, while offline retailers also adjusted their stock. During a visit to the Adidas flagship store in Beijing’s Sanlitun shopping district, Real Madrid jerseys were available for purchase, but none featured Mbappe’s name.
In response to the mounting pressure, Mbappe published a statement in French, Mandarin, and English on Tuesday offering an apology. He stated that his comment was ill-judged and acknowledged that it hurt many people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. He explained that he had reacted to an image of himself during the interview and expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
China’s foreign ministry acknowledged the apology during a regular briefing on Wednesday, with spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating that Beijing takes the individual’s apology seriously. Meanwhile, state-backed media reported that Chinese state television had halted broadcasts of all La Liga matches and events involving Mbappe, while all related advertisements were pulled.
Football authorities have scrambled to mitigate the economic fallout. La Liga President Javier Tebas issued an apology and met with the Chinese ambassador in Spain to seek solutions. Tebas emphasized that China remains a strategic partner for the league and indicated he was considering traveling to China to protect Spanish football from substantial financial losses. Real Madrid also issued an apology on Wednesday, expressing regret on behalf of the club for any discomfort caused by its player’s words and underscoring its deep respect for China and its fans.
