China Responds to Mbappe’s Apology After Controversial Mao Comments

China announced on Wednesday that it is taking Kylian Mbappe’s apology seriously after the football star made comments that upset many in the country. His remarks, which mocked Mao Zedong, led to a significant backlash and the removal of Spanish football broadcasts from Chinese state television.

Mbappe, a player for Real Madrid and captain of the French national team, made the comments during an interview on a French show. He joked about an internet meme featuring his face edited onto an image of Mao, who is a controversial figure in China due to his role in the country’s history. In a statement, Mbappe expressed regret, saying, “My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset.”

In response, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry stated they take the apology seriously. However, the situation escalated further as several companies, including beverage giant Dongpeng and dairy firms Mengniu and Milkground, ended their partnerships with Mbappe.

La Liga, the league in which Real Madrid plays, also expressed regret over the offense caused to Chinese fans. Meanwhile, criticism of Real Madrid grew, with many questioning why the club had not publicly addressed Mbappe’s comments or taken any disciplinary action.

On social media, Mbappe faced intense backlash, with some comments being racist. His original joke about Mao has been removed from Chinese social media platforms, and his accounts on popular apps like Xiaohongshu and Weibo have been suspended.

Additionally, reports indicated that major brands like Dior and Hublot had also removed content related to Mbappe from their Weibo pages. His merchandise appeared to be missing from stores in China, signaling a potential decline in his popularity in the country.

China has a history of reacting strongly to comments made by foreign figures that are seen as disrespectful. In the past, similar incidents have led to the suspension of sponsorship deals and broadcasting rights for various sports leagues in China.