In short
- Kylian Mbappé apologised for what he called “ill-judged” comments about late Chinese leader Mao Zedong after Chinese brands ended partnerships with the Real Madrid forward.
- Chinese dairy producer Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng both said they opposed any words or behaviour that offended national sentiment.
- Chinese state broadcaster CCTV’s news apps will not carry content about Mbappé, and CCTV will stop showing La Liga matches, according to Chinese media reports on Tuesday.
- By 14:00 local time on Tuesday, five of the 10 top trending topics on Weibo concerned Mbappé, with the hashtag on brands terminating partnerships topping the list.
- Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and ruled until his death in 1976.
Kylian Mbappé has apologised for what he called “ill-judged” comments about late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, after Chinese brands ended partnerships with the Real Madrid forward and state broadcaster CCTV said its news apps would not carry content about him. The remarks, made on a French talk show, triggered a backlash on Chinese social media this week.
What did Kylian Mbappé say?
On the French talk show The Bridge, hosted by Real Madrid player Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mbappé named the meme that made him laugh most, describing it as featuring “a video of a guy, I think it’s a Chinese dictator”. In clips circulating online, the footage then cuts to an image of Mbappé’s own face superimposed on a picture resembling Mao. He does not identify Mao Zedong by name in the clip, and says he “uses [the meme] with friends all the time”.
The joke draws on a running theme among fans who call the forward a “dictator” because of his influence in football. The original video is no longer available on the show’s YouTube channel, and it is unclear when the interview first aired.
What has Mbappé said in his apology?
In a statement, Mbappé said: “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 apologise to everyone my words have upset.”
Spain’s La Liga also apologised, saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappé’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans”.
Which companies and broadcasters responded?
The furore appeared to begin on Monday night, when the Chinese football forum Dongqiudi issued a statement calling the comments “inappropriate” and saying they “hurt the feelings of Chinese people”. Screengrabs of the clip and the meme then spread on Chinese social media, and by 14:00 local time on Tuesday five of the 10 top trending topics on Weibo concerned Mbappé. The hashtag “multiple brands terminate partnerships with Mbappé” topped the list.
Chinese dairy producer Mengniu said it “firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”. Drinks company Dongpeng issued a similar statement, saying it opposed “any behaviour that offends national sentiments”. Neither company referred explicitly to the video.
According to the state-owned newspaper The Global Times, CCTV’s news apps will not feature content related to the striker, and CCTV will stop showing La Liga matches, Chinese media reported on Tuesday. Real Madrid, Mbappé’s club, is one of 20 teams in the Spanish league and holds 36 league titles, more than any other side.
What has China’s foreign ministry said?
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “We have noted the relevant reports. Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”
Why is Mao Zedong a sensitive subject in China?
Mao founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and ruled until his death in 1976. His industrialisation drive, the Great Leap Forward, led to a famine that killed tens of millions of people, and the Cultural Revolution that followed was a violent purge of people judged threats to Communism, among them intellectuals, landowners and artists. The Communist Party continues to present Mao as a national icon, and jokes about him are treated as an insult to the party and to its narrative about the country’s past.
How important is the Chinese market to international sports stars?
China is a major market for global sports figures, and Chinese companies have signed multimillion-dollar endorsement contracts with Mbappé, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and NBA player Stephen Curry. Mbappé is popular in China, and some users online accused him of “profiting from the Chinese market yet making remarks that offend the Chinese public”.
Frequently asked questions
What did Kylian Mbappé say about Mao Zedong?
On the French talk show The Bridge, Mbappé called a meme featuring “a video of a guy, I think it’s a Chinese dictator” the one that made him laugh most. A clip then showed his face superimposed on an image resembling Mao; he did not name Mao Zedong directly.
Which Chinese brands dropped Mbappé?
Chinese dairy producer Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng both issued statements saying they opposed any words or behaviour that offended national sentiment and moved to end their partnerships, without naming the video directly.
Is CCTV still showing La Liga matches?
According to Chinese media reports on Tuesday, CCTV will stop broadcasting La Liga matches and its news apps will not carry content about Mbappé. Real Madrid, his club, plays in La Liga.
Why are jokes about Mao Zedong controversial in China?
Mao founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and ruled until 1976, and the Communist Party still presents him as a national icon whose legacy is not open to challenge. His Great Leap Forward was followed by a famine that killed tens of millions, and the Cultural Revolution involved violent purges.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Close globe world map image — rawpixel / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)