China Takes Kylian Mbappé's Apology Seriously After Backlash
Global soccer star apologizes for comments perceived as disrespectful to Mao Zedong, leading to canceled brand deals and suspended broadcasts.
China's Foreign Ministry stated Wednesday that it has taken soccer star Kylian Mbappé's apology "seriously" for remarks that were considered disrespectful to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China. The statement comes as the fallout from the incident continues, including the loss of brand deals and the suspension of broadcasts featuring the player.
Mbappé faced significant backlash Tuesday after comments made in an online interview, which resulted in at least three Chinese companies—beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground—ending their endorsement agreements with the forward. These companies cited opposition to "any words and actions that hurt national sentiment."
"We take seriously the apology he has made," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a daily press briefing. The People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, commented online that "once a public figure's speech and actions cross the limit, or step on a red line, … he becomes a brand's negative asset." The publication added that Chinese platforms and companies "take firm actions to cut off such a relationship" due to "principles and the necessity of business logic."
China Media Group also announced it had suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches and other games involving Mbappé, demanding an apology from La Liga, the player, and his club, Real Madrid.
Mbappé issued an apology Tuesday, stating, "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world." He added, "I apologize 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."
Spanish league president Javier Tebas had previously issued a public apology, emphasizing La Liga's commitment to its partnerships with China. Real Madrid followed with its own apology on Wednesday, reiterating its respect for the Chinese people and expressing regret over Mbappé's remarks. China Media Group confirmed receipt of Real Madrid's apology.
The controversy stemmed from a video clip where Mbappé, when asked about his favorite meme of himself, responded by referring to a video someone made of a person he described as "a Chinese dictator." The video then depicted Mbappé's face superimposed on an image of Mao Zedong.
Online, soccer fans have jokingly referred to the star player as a "dictator," with memes comparing him to Mao or other autocratic leaders circulating widely. Mao Zedong, who founded the People's Republic of China, is revered by many, though his legacy includes authoritarian rule and campaigns that resulted in millions of deaths.
The incident highlights China's practice of leveraging its economic influence to compel apologies for perceived slights. This mirrors past events, such as the 2019 suspension of NBA game broadcasts after a tweet by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong protesters.