Mbappe Apologizes to China After Sponsors Pull Out Over Mao Meme Comment

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe issued an apology on Tuesday after his comments regarding a meme of Mao Zedong led major sponsors to sever ties with him. The backlash emerged one day after the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony at the London Palladium, where the Frenchman did not win the award. The incident has created a rift between the player and the Chinese market, a key revenue source for European football.

The controversy started when Mbappe appeared on the French talk show The Bridge. He discussed internet memes about his image and said he found the most humorous one to be a video of a man he believed was a Chinese dictator. The clip showed his face superimposed on an image resembling Mao. This reference builds on long-standing comparisons between Mbappe and authoritarian figures. During the 2026 World Cup, Ousmane Dembele had called him Mbappe Mobut. In September, Mbappe told France Football that such jokes sometimes reveal a lack of political and human awareness.

Chinese commercial partners reacted quickly to the remarks. Mengniu, the nation's largest dairy producer, stated that it firmly opposes and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Dongpeng, a drinks company, also issued a statement opposing behavior that offends national sentiments. The state-owned Global Times reported that CCTV applications will no longer carry news about the player and the broadcaster will stop streaming LaLiga matches.

Mbappe addressed the issue directly in a public statement. He admitted that his comment on the image was not appropriate. He said he now realizes the remark hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities worldwide. He apologized to those upset and expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history. He noted that causing offense was never his intention.

League and club officials moved to contain the damage. LaLiga apologized on behalf of itself and its clubs, clarifying that Mbappe spoke in a personal capacity. The league said it is working with Chinese partners and will introduce a new protocol to promote cultural respect among clubs and players. Javier Tebas, the LaLiga president, wrote on X that he cannot allow one individual's actions to tarnish the relationship with the more than 20 professional clubs and their millions of Chinese fans. Real Madrid also apologized to the Chinese people, stating it joins Mbappe's public apology and hopes to strengthen its bonds with the country.

The political context of the dispute centers on Mao Zedong, who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and led the Communist Party until 1976. The party still governs the country and views jokes about Mao as an insult to the nation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that words and deeds hurting the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.