Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has apologised after major Chinese brands ended their partnerships with him over a viral video in which he appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The controversy has also raised concerns about wider repercussions for Spanish football, with reports that China’s state broadcaster has suspended the transmission of Spanish La Liga matches.
The video shows Mbappe describing an internet meme featuring his face superimposed on that of a Chinese dictator. He appeared to be referring to a meme depicting him as Mao, who led China from 1949 until his death in 1976.
The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified by AFP Fact Check.
In an apology issued on Tuesday in French, Chinese and English, the France captain acknowledged that his remarks were inappropriate and had offended people.
“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,” he said.
La Liga also apologised to Chinese fans, stressing that the comments were made in Mbappe’s personal capacity and did not represent the Spanish football league.
Chinese beverage company Dongpeng announced that it was terminating its partnership with the footballer, citing its opposition to conduct that offends national sentiments.
The company had featured Mbappe in advertisements during this year’s World Cup, including AI-generated images showing him consuming its sports drink.
Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, and cheesemaker Milkground also announced that they were ending their partnerships with the 27-year-old forward, who had previously enjoyed considerable popularity among Chinese football fans.
The development triggered widespread reactions on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where the topic “Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe” reportedly attracted 430 million views.
Some users described the remarks as offensive and called on sponsors to remove the footballer’s image from their products.
China’s foreign ministry also weighed in on the controversy. Spokesman Guo Jiakun said remarks and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally face widespread rejection within Chinese society.
Meanwhile, state-run media outlet The Paper reported that China Central Television (CCTV) had suspended La Liga broadcasts and removed advertisements featuring Mbappe. However, La Liga matches remained listed on the broadcaster’s online viewing schedule at the time of the report.
The controversy comes amid heightened sensitivity in China over comments concerning Mao, the country’s founding leader. While Mao remains an important historical figure, historians have also blamed policies implemented during his rule for mass starvation and millions of deaths.
Mbappe had previously discussed a related meme in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe in September, acknowledging that while part of the joke was amusing, the historical damage caused by dictators made other aspects less funny.
The incident recalls previous disputes between China and international sports organisations over politically sensitive remarks.
In 2019, China suspended sponsorship arrangements with the National Basketball Association and its state broadcaster stopped showing NBA games for a year after Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey posted a message supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.
Sports consultancy firm Key-Solution Sports Consulting founder Adam Zhang said, before Mbappe issued his apology, that a swift and sincere response was necessary to contain the growing controversy.
Some Chinese fans have also expressed disappointment over the incident, with one Beijing resident telling AFP that the news had diminished her admiration for the football star.