"Sincerely sorry": Mbappé breaks silence amid major China controversy

Mbappé apologised after joking about Mao Zedong in an interview, triggering backlash and boycotts from Chinese brands.

Kylian Mbappé broke his silence on Tuesday with a statement apologising for comments made during a recent interview in which he joked about Mao Zedong. The Real Madrid forward's remarks sparked significant controversy in China and among Chinese communities worldwide, leading to boycotts by several Chinese brands.

In his statement, Mbappé acknowledged that his words were "clumsy" and expressed understanding that they had hurt many people. "I present my apologies to all those whose feelings my words have hurt. It was absolutely not my intention," he said. "I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."