Kylian Mbappe Apologises After China Backlash Over Mao Zedong Comment

Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe has apologised after remarks about Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong triggered a backlash in China, with several major Chinese brands ending commercial ties with the football star.

Mbappe issued the apology in French, Chinese and English after a video circulating online appeared to show him joking about a meme that superimposed his face onto an image of Mao.

The video’s authenticity could not immediately be independently verified, but the comments have already led to commercial repercussions for the 27-year-old forward, who has enjoyed a large following among Chinese football fans.

Mbappe says comment was ill-judged

In his statement, Mbappe acknowledged that his remark had caused offence.

He said his comment was “ill-judged” and that he now understood it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

Mbappe apologised to those who had been upset by his words.

The controversy centres on a video in which the footballer reportedly described a meme featuring his face superimposed on Mao as one of the funniest internet memes he had seen.

Mao, who died in 1976, remains an extremely sensitive figure in China. His legacy is closely associated with the founding of the People’s Republic of China, while historians have also linked some of his policies to mass starvation and millions of deaths.

Chinese brands cut ties with Mbappe

The fallout quickly moved beyond social media.

Chinese beverage company Dongpeng announced that it was ending its cooperation with Mbappe, saying it had a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct it considered offensive to national sentiment.

The company had previously featured Mbappe prominently in advertising, including promotions for its sports drink.

China’s largest dairy producer, Mengniu, and cheesemaker Milkground also reportedly ended their relationships with the footballer.

The reaction was particularly significant because Mbappe has been a major figure among Chinese football supporters, with millions of followers on Chinese social media platforms.

On Weibo, the Chinese social media platform, the topic about Dongpeng ending its cooperation with Mbappe reportedly became one of the day’s biggest trends, generating hundreds of millions of views.

Some users called for brands to remove his image from their products.

La Liga also responds

Spain’s La Liga, where Mbappe plays for Real Madrid, also issued an apology to Chinese supporters.

The league said it deeply regretted the offence caused by Mbappe’s comments and stressed that the remarks were made in his personal capacity and did not represent La Liga.

There were also reports that Chinese state television was suspending broadcasts of La Liga matches, although the supplied material does not establish the full scope or duration of any such suspension.

China says offensive remarks will face rejection

The controversy also reached China’s Foreign Ministry.

Spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing was aware of the reports concerning Mbappe.

He said words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally face rejection from different sectors of Chinese society.

The reaction comes at a time when Mbappe remains one of the biggest names in world football. The Real Madrid forward had also recently been in the spotlight after finishing runner-up to England striker Harry Kane in the Ballon d’Or award.

A wider question for global sports brands

The controversy highlights the risks international athletes and brands face when their public comments intersect with politically or culturally sensitive issues in major markets.

For Mbappe, the immediate issue is no longer simply a viral video. The reaction has reached commercial partnerships, football broadcasting and relations with a large international fanbase.

For now, Mbappe has apologised, while the commercial consequences of the controversy continue to unfold.

The incident also underlines how quickly comments made by globally recognised athletes can move from social media into the worlds of business, sport and international public relations.