Kylian Mbappé Apologizes to China After Mao Zedong Comment Sparks Backlash

French soccer captain Kylian Mbappé has apologized to China after calling Mao Zedong a “dictator,” a comment that triggered significant criticism and led to institutional repercussions.

“My comment was ill-judged,” Mbappé stated in a multilingual statement. “I apologize to everyone my words have upset.”

In a video clip from the French talk show “The Bridge,” Mbappé referred to Mao as “some guy—I think he’s a Chinese dictator” while describing a meme that photoshopped his face onto a picture of the late founder of the Chinese Communist Party. The clip was behind-the-scenes footage from a podcast filmed in March. “The Bridge” show also issued an apology to Chinese fans.

The meme is part of an internet trend where soccer fans superimpose Mbappé’s face onto images of military and political leaders, playing on his nickname “the dictator,” which refers to his perceived authority and influence in football. Mbappé himself told French magazine L’Equipe that while he found some memes funny, others demonstrated “a lack of political and human awareness,” adding, “To be compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions and millions of people miserable… I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that in my life.”

Mbappé’s characterization of Mao, however, ignited sharp rebuke in China. Several Chinese broadcasters suspended coverage related to Mbappé and Spain's LaLiga, while some brands pulled advertisements featuring the player. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated prior to Mbappé’s apology that “words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”

Parody of Chinese leaders, particularly Mao, is politically sensitive within China. Mao, who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949, is viewed by many internationally as an authoritarian figure responsible for widespread famine and violence. Within China, however, he is often seen as a revolutionary leader who unified the country. While official accounts have condemned the Cultural Revolution as a “grave blunder,” they also maintain that Mao's contributions outweighed his mistakes.

In his apology, Mbappé said, “During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. … This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”

Past Sensitivity

This incident echoes previous cases of cultural and political insensitivity impacting international figures in China. In August, artist Gao Zhen was sentenced to three years in prison for “infringing upon the reputation of heroes” due to satirical sculptures of Mao.

In October 2019, China suspended partnerships with the National Basketball Association after Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey posted support for Hong Kong protests, leading state broadcaster CCTV to suspend game broadcasts for a year.

Canceled Contracts

Mbappé's comments have already resulted in financial consequences. China's largest dairy producer, Mengniu, along with cheesemaker Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and beverage giant Eastroc Beverage, announced they would cease partnerships with Mbappé, citing a “zero-tolerance policy” towards offensive behavior.

These contracts were reportedly worth approximately 50 million yuan ($6.7 million) combined. Brands like Dongpeng and Mengniu saw their stock prices fall following Mbappé’s remarks. Global brands including Dior, Nike, and Hublot also removed promotional content featuring Mbappé from their Chinese social media accounts.

China's state television CCTV suspended broadcasts of all matches and events involving Mbappé and LaLiga and pulled advertisements featuring the player. LaLiga President Javier Tebas stated he met with the Chinese Ambassador in Spain to “seek solutions that ​allow us to overcome this episode.”

Online Backlash

Mbappé, once a popular figure in China, now faces significant online criticism. Calls for brands to terminate partnerships and boycott the player trended on Chinese social media. Some users accused Mbappé of profiting from the Chinese market while disrespecting national sentiments. Mbappé's accounts on Chinese platforms like Weibo and Rednote were reportedly restricted for violating community guidelines.

Chinese state media outlets condemned Mbappé’s remarks, with China Daily stating the backlash “threatened his lucrative commercial relationships and offered a sharp reminder of the limits of celebrity influence.” The Global Times commented, “Respect is not optional; one doesn't get to profit from China while disrespecting it. Not a chance.”

Censorship Concerns

Outside China, some have criticized the intense backlash and Mbappé's apology. The U.S. House Select Committee on China posted that Mbappé “should not apologize for calling Mao Zedong a dictator. Mao was a dictator, and by orders of magnitude, he did more harm to the Chinese people than a comment from a soccer player ever could.” The committee also criticized companies for apologizing to continue business in China.