French football star Kylian Mbappé has apologised for remarks referring to China’s founding leader, Mao Zedong, as a dictator after the comments sparked criticism in China and three Chinese companies announced the termination of their commercial partnerships with him.
Key Highlights
- Mbappé apologises after referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator in a video.
- Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground end their commercial deals with the Real Madrid star.
- RedNote barred his account from accepting new followers and is removing promotional materials.
- Calls to boycott Mbappé trended on Weibo.
- China’s Foreign Ministry says remarks that hurt Chinese feelings will attract opposition.
Mbappé issued an apology on Tuesday, saying his comments were poorly judged and acknowledging that they had offended people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said in a statement, adding that he had deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
How The Controversy Started
The controversy followed the circulation of a video purportedly showing Mbappé responding to a question about his favourite meme of himself during an interview ahead of his appearance on the French online talk show The Bridge.
In the clip, the Real Madrid forward reportedly described a video featuring a man he believed was a Chinese dictator.
The footage then showed an edited image placing Mbappé’s face on the body of Mao Zedong, who led the Chinese Communist Party and founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
The footballer is frequently featured in internet memes portraying him as an authoritarian leader, with supporters joking about his prominence in teams and his influence among teammates. He had previously spoken about the “dictator” memes in September.
However, the remarks triggered a backlash on Chinese social media, where users criticised the comparison and called for a boycott of the player.
Dongpeng, Mengniu, Milkground End Deals
Beverage manufacturer Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground announced on Tuesday that they were ending their agreements with Mbappé.
In similarly worded statements, the companies said they opposed words and actions that hurt national sentiment.
They did not explicitly identify the comments as the reason for their decisions, although their announcements followed the video’s circulation.
Mbappé has featured prominently in advertising campaigns across China, including promotions for drinks, milk and cheese products.
His image has appeared on advertisements in public places, including subway stations and elevators.
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The controversy also affected his presence on Chinese social media platform RedNote. The platform said its content partnership with Mbappé had ended on December 31, 2024, and announced plans to remove related promotional materials.
His RedNote account was also barred from accepting new followers on Tuesday.
The issue became a major topic on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where hashtags concerning the companies’ decisions and calls to boycott the footballer trended.
Some users expressed anger over the remarks, while others urged Mbappé not to visit China.
In response to a question about the controversy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said remarks or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would attract opposition from different sections of society.
Mbappé’s apology comes as the backlash threatens his commercial relationships in one of the world’s major consumer markets, where international sports stars have substantial advertising exposure.
The incident highlights the potential consequences for global athletes when comments or online content involving politically and historically significant figures provoke public criticism in overseas markets.
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