Kylian Mbappe forced to apologise for Mao Zedong joke after backlash in China

Mbappe apologised after a video showed him laughing at a meme comparing him to Mao Zedong, sparking backlash in China and leading major brands to drop him.

A video emerged of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe discussing memes, in which he allegedly called Mao Zedong a "Chinese dictator" while laughing at an image comparing himself to the former Communist Party chairman. The comments sparked severe backlash in China, with major brands including beverage company Dongpeng, dairy firm Mengniu, and cheesemaker Milkground cutting all commercial ties with the striker.

Mbappe released a statement in French, English and Chinese apologising for the incident. "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world," he said. "I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."

The fallout extended beyond Mbappe, with LaLiga also dropping broadcasting rights in China. LaLiga chairman Javier Tebas issued his own apology, saying he would work with clubs and players to strengthen awareness of different cultures. The controversy also coincided with Mbappe finishing second to Harry Kane in the Ballon d'Or voting, despite leading for much of the race.