China made Mbappé apologise - but many don't know exactly what he said

Mbappé apologised for joking about a meme comparing him to Mao Zedong, sparking backlash from Chinese brands and state media; China's censorship system left many citizens unaware of what he actually said.

Kylian Mbappé became embroiled in controversy after a clip surfaced of him joking about a meme where his face is superimposed on a figure resembling Mao Zedong. The incident triggered swift retaliation: Chinese brands severed ties with the Real Madrid forward, and China Media Group suspended La Liga broadcasts. A foreign ministry spokesperson condemned words and actions that "hurt the feelings of the Chinese people."

Mbappé issued an apology, calling his comment "ill-judged" and "sincerely sorry." Real Madrid and La Liga also apologised. Beijing confirmed it was taking the apology "seriously," though China Media Group has not yet confirmed whether broadcasts will resume.

Ironically, China's extensive internet censorship meant many Chinese citizens remained unclear about what Mbappé had actually said. References to Mao were largely avoided online, with users instead referring to "the person on the 100 yuan note" or "the teacher." Screenshots of the meme and interview had both the word "dictator" and Mbappé's face blurred out. Neither official statements nor apologies mentioned Mao by name, leaving many on Chinese social media still asking what exactly transpired.