Mbappé Says Mao-Related Comment Was ‘Ill-Judged’ After Sponsor Fallout
What Happened
Kylian Mbappé apologised after a video circulated in which he described a meme showing his face superimposed on Mao Zedong as depicting a “Chinese dictator.” Mbappé said his comment was “ill-judged” and apologised for upsetting people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. Chinese companies Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground subsequently ended their commercial partnerships with the Real Madrid star. LaLiga also distanced itself from his remarks and apologised to Chinese fans.
Key Takeaways
The controversy has moved beyond social-media criticism, costing Mbappé major Chinese sponsorship deals and prompting apologies from both the player and LaLiga.