Kylian Mbappé has apologised to Chinese people following a controversy surrounding his comments about a viral internet meme depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, an incident that has prompted Chinese state television to suspend La Liga broadcasts and several major companies to terminate their commercial partnerships with the Real Madrid forward.
The controversy escalated on October 27 after a video from an interview associated with the French online programme The Bridge circulated on social media, triggering criticism across China and prompting calls for a formal apology from the footballer and his club.
By October 28, China Media Group, which oversees state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), had confirmed the suspension of Spanish league broadcasts and rejected explanations attributed to Real Madrid, insisting that the club could not avoid responsibility for its player’s remarks.
The incident began when Mbappé was asked about his favourite internet meme featuring himself during an interview. The French international referred to an image of a man he described as a Chinese dictator before the video showed a digitally altered picture placing his face on the body of Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China.
According to reports by the Associated Press and Reuters, the footballer appeared to describe the meme as one he found particularly funny and indicated that he used it when joking with friends while playing video games.
The image formed part of a wider collection of internet memes portraying Mbappé as an authoritarian figure. The jokes developed partly from football fans’ perceptions of his influence over his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, where his status and contract situation became subjects of widespread debate before his eventual move to Real Madrid.
However, the reference to Mao introduced a politically sensitive dimension to what might otherwise have remained ordinary football-related internet humour.
Mao led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in the Chinese civil war and established the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Although his legacy remains deeply contested because of the human cost of policies implemented during his rule, he continues to occupy a prominent place in the country’s official historical narrative and is revered by many Chinese people.
Consequently, remarks that appear to ridicule or disrespect Mao can provoke a strong response in China, where criticism of the former leader carries particular political and cultural sensitivity.
The video sparked criticism on Chinese social media, with users questioning Mbappé’s remarks and calling for accountability. The controversy quickly moved beyond online discussions as Chinese companies began reviewing their commercial relationships with the footballer.
On October 27, beverage manufacturer Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheese company Milkground announced that they were terminating their cooperation agreements with Mbappé.
The companies issued statements opposing conduct they considered harmful to the feelings of the Chinese people. Dongpeng announced that it was ending its cooperation with the footballer with immediate effect, while Mengniu and Milkground also confirmed the termination of their respective partnerships.
The companies did not disclose the financial value of the agreements or specify the precise commercial losses resulting from their decisions.
The reaction also extended to RedNote, the Chinese social media platform known locally as Xiaohongshu. The platform said its content partnership with Mbappé had ended on December 31, 2024, and announced that it would remove related promotional materials. His account was also restricted from accepting new followers, according to reports.
The commercial consequences were followed by a significant development for Spanish football.
China Media Group suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches, including coverage associated with Mbappé, and removed advertisements and videos featuring the French forward. The suspension took effect on October 26, according to reporting by Spanish news agency EFE.
The decision placed La Liga’s visibility on Chinese state television at the centre of the dispute. The Spanish competition has an established international audience, and China represents an important market for football broadcasting, sponsorship and commercial promotion.
The suspension was not simply a case of Chinese companies withdrawing from individual sponsorship agreements. It involved the state broadcaster’s decision to stop showing the Spanish competition, creating consequences for a league that includes Real Madrid and some of the world’s most recognisable footballers.
China’s Football Association also lodged a strong protest with Real Madrid and demanded a formal public apology from both the player and the club.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the issue during a press briefing, saying that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally face opposition from different sectors of Chinese society.
The response demonstrated how quickly a comment made during an entertainment interview could develop into a wider dispute involving football, commercial partnerships and relations with a major international market.
Facing mounting criticism, Mbappé issued an apology on October 27, acknowledging that his comments had been poorly judged and had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
“During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself,” the forward said.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.”
He continued: “I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
“I am sincerely sorry.”
The apology represented Mbappé’s direct response to the controversy after the backlash had already resulted in the loss of several commercial partnerships and the suspension of La Liga broadcasts in China.
La Liga also expressed regret over the offence caused by the footballer’s comments, stressing that his remarks were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the competition’s position.
The league said it would work with relevant stakeholders in China and develop a communication protocol for players and clubs to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, the apology and explanations did not immediately resolve the dispute.
On October 28, China Media Group confirmed that the suspension of La Liga broadcasts remained in place and rejected the explanations attributed to Real Madrid, including the position that Mbappé had not intended to offend Chinese people and was entitled to express his personal opinions.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster’s sports department maintained that the player’s comments went beyond what could be dismissed as an ordinary matter of personal expression. The organisation indicated that it would not resume discussions unless the club provided an apology considered satisfactory.
The latest development suggests that Mbappé’s personal apology has not, by itself, secured the restoration of La Liga broadcasts in China. The broadcaster’s position places additional pressure on Real Madrid to address the controversy directly.
The episode also recalls previous disputes between Chinese broadcasters and international sports organisations. In 2019, CCTV suspended broadcasts of National Basketball Association games following a social media post by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressing support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. That dispute demonstrated how political sensitivities can affect the commercial reach of international sporting competitions in China.
In Mbappé’s case, the immediate trigger was a meme rather than a statement about government policy. Nevertheless, the reaction shows how an apparently humorous comment involving a politically sensitive historical figure can produce consequences extending far beyond the original interview.
For the French forward, the immediate consequences include the loss of three Chinese commercial partnerships and a public dispute that has placed his relationship with Chinese audiences under scrutiny. For La Liga, the suspension creates uncertainty over its continued exposure through Chinese state television.
Neither the footballer’s apology nor La Liga’s statement has yet brought a publicly confirmed end to the broadcasting suspension.
As of October 28, 2026, Chinese state television continues to maintain its position that satisfactory action is required before the matter can be resolved. Whether Real Madrid can reach an agreement with China Media Group, and when La Liga broadcasts might resume, remain unclear.
