Real Madrid apologises to China after Mbappe Mao comments spark backlash

Player and club issue statements

Kylian Mbappe released a public apology in French, Chinese, and English stating his comment was ill-judged. He expressed regret for hurting people in China and Chinese communities around the world. Real Madrid joined this effort by issuing its own statement apologizing to the Chinese people for any offence caused.

Commercial and broadcast consequences

Major Chinese brands including Mengniu dropped the player after the incident occurred. State-backed China Media Group suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches featuring the French forward. These actions followed a formal protest lodged by the China Football Association regarding the remarks.

Context of the viral clip

The controversy stemmed from a podcast clip where Mbappe discussed an internet meme superimposing his face on Mao Zedong. During the segment, he referred to the figure as a Chinese dictator while joking about fan culture memes. This specific phrasing caused widespread offense in China where the late leader remains a sensitive historical figure.