Mbappé apologises for Mao remark after backlash in China

Kylian Mbappé has apologised for an “ill-judged” remark apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator, after an interview clip prompted a backlash in China. The France star said he understood that his words had upset people in China and Chinese communities overseas.

In a statement posted on social media, Mbappé said he had been reacting to an image of himself during an interview and had not intended to cause offence. He expressed respect for the Chinese people and their history, while apologising to those hurt by the comment.

The controversy centres on a clip associated with the French online talk show The Bridge, in which Mbappé was asked about his favourite meme of himself. He referred to a video featuring someone he described as a “Chinese dictator”, before an altered image showed his face on a body resembling Mao’s. He did not name Mao in the remark.

The image belongs to a wider strand of internet humour portraying Mbappé as an authoritarian leader. Such memes draw on perceptions of his outsized influence within football teams, rather than depicting an actual political role. The exchange nevertheless moved beyond its original light-hearted setting when the clip circulated among Chinese audiences.

The reaction brought commercial consequences. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground announced that they were ending agreements with the footballer, according to Associated Press reporting. Their statements opposed conduct that offended national sentiment, although they did not explicitly identify the remarks behind their decisions.

The dispute also reached social media platform Xiaohongshu, known internationally as RedNote. The platform said its earlier content partnership with Mbappé had already expired and that it would remove related promotional material. That distinction separates its response from the companies announcing the termination of existing agreements.

Mao’s position as the founding leader of Communist China gives the reference political significance beyond an ordinary football joke. Asked about the controversy, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said remarks that hurt Chinese public sentiment would encounter opposition across society. His response placed the dispute within a broader national reaction.

The commercial exposure extends beyond a single advertising campaign. Mbappé has appeared in Chinese promotions for drinks and dairy products, making his image familiar outside football broadcasts. The withdrawals illustrate how an athlete’s entertainment appearances and online persona can affect business relationships far removed from performances on the pitch.

The controversy also drew a response from La Liga, the Spanish league in which Mbappé plays for Real Madrid. League president Javier Tebas expressed regret over the offence caused in China and sought to distinguish the player’s comments from the competition’s relationship with Chinese supporters and partners.

Mbappé’s apology is his direct response to the backlash, but the available reporting does not establish that any terminated partnerships will be restored. The next developments will depend on responses from sponsors and Chinese audiences, while La Liga has said it is working with its partners in China to address the situation.