Mbappé apologises to China after Mao meme clip
France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has apologised to China and its people after a clip of him discussing a meme that shows his face on a Chinese dictator went viral. The image is widely read as a reference to Mao Zedong. Three Chinese sponsors, Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground, have ended their deals with him. China Media Group has said it will suspend broadcasts of LaLiga and other matches involving Mbappé, and LaLiga has expressed deep regret over the hurt caused to Chinese fans.
Key facts
- China's state broadcaster CCTV said Mbappé's apology would be judged by his actions.
- Mbappé apologised in Chinese, French and English on X on 27 Oct, calling his comments ill-judged.
- LaLiga president Javier Tebas met the Chinese ambassador to Spain to discuss solutions.
- Real Madrid said it deeply respects China and its fans and regrets the hurt caused.
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Why it matters
The row has cost a global footballer major commercial partners and affects how LaLiga matches are broadcast in China.
What changed
First published from Yahoo Sports, CNBC, Al Jazeera English and Fortune