China accepts Mbappé apology over 'ill-judged' joke on Mao Zedong

Mbappé apologised for joking about a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong on a French talk show, sparking backlash in China that led brands to cut ties and CCTV to halt La Liga broadcasts.

Kylian Mbappé apologised for an "ill-judged" comment made on a French talk show in which he joked about a meme showing his face superimposed on an image of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. He said the remark "hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world" and expressed regret for upsetting anyone.

The backlash began after Chinese football forum Dongqiudi highlighted the comments, describing them as inappropriate. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV stopped featuring Mbappé in news coverage and halted La Liga broadcasts. Several Chinese brands including dairy giant Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng cut ties with the Real Madrid forward, and his accounts on platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo were restricted.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the government was taking the apology seriously. La Liga also issued an apology, saying it "deeply regrets the offence" caused by Mbappé's comments. The controversy trended heavily on Weibo, with some users calling for boycotts of the player and Real Madrid.