Kylian Mbappe Apologizes After China Pulls La Liga Broadcasts Over Mao Joke

One million followers lost access to new content on Weibo after Kylian Mbappe’s social media page was restricted in China.

The restriction followed a video that circulated online on Monday. In the clip, the 27-year-old France captain discussed a viral meme featuring his face superimposed on a political figure. He described the image as showing a Chinese dictator, though he did not explicitly name Mao Zedong. Al Jazeera confirmed the footage was likely filmed in April and originally shared by the French football podcast The Bridge.

The joke references a long-standing internet trend where fans edit Mbappe’s face onto portraits of military and political leaders to suggest his influence over club decisions. European media have frequently referred to him as a dictator in this context. Mbappe previously told L'Equipe last month that while the nickname was amusing, the historical damage caused by such figures made the comparison less funny.

Chinese state media initially avoided repeating the specific wording. Outlets labeled the comment inappropriate remarks concerning China. The Global Times asked why the public should repeat the remark, noting that one does not get to profit from China while disrespecting it. Xiaohongshu froze Mbappe’s account, which holds at least one million followers, while Weibo blocked new users from joining his page.

Commercial partners moved quickly to distance themselves. Dongpeng, a Chinese drinks company, ended its contract with immediate effect on Tuesday. The company cited a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that offends national sentiments. Dairy producer Mengniu also cut ties. Reports indicated that Dior and Hublot removed Mbappe-related content from Weibo. At the Adidas flagship store in Beijing’s Sanlitun district, AFP found Real Madrid jerseys on sale, but none displayed his name.

The Paper, a state-backed outlet, reported that China’s state television halted broadcasts of all matches and events involving La Liga and Mbappe. Advertisements featuring the player were pulled from air. Sports sponsorship expert Terrence Burns said Mbappe’s team should have understood the high stakes of Chinese brand endorsements. The situation mirrors events in October 2019, when China suspended NBA sponsorships and the state broadcaster pulled games for a year.

Mbappe issued an apology on Tuesday in French, Mandarin, and English. He described his comment as ill-judged and acknowledged that it hurt many people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. He stated he had deep respect for the Chinese people and their history. On Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China takes the apology seriously.

La Liga president Javier Tebas met with China’s ambassador to Spain and described China as a strategic partner. Reuters reported that Tebas is considering a trip to China to prevent significant financial losses for Spanish football. Tebas and Real Madrid have a strained relationship due to a power struggle in Spanish football, but both sides set aside their differences. Real Madrid apologized to the Chinese people on Wednesday, stating the club maintains deep respect for China, its history, its culture, and its citizens.