Kylian Mbappé issues apology after meme referencing Mao Zedong sparks brand withdrawals

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé posted a video that referenced a meme showing his face on a portrait of Mao Zedong, describing the former leader as “a Chinese dictator”. The clip quickly spread on Chinese social platforms, prompting criticism that the comment was offensive to Chinese people.

Within hours, a number of foreign brands, including Mercedes and Versace, announced the termination of their partnerships with Mbappé. Chinese football app Dongqiudi issued a statement saying the remarks were “inappropriate” and that it could not translate the content because it offended Chinese audiences. The China Football Association also lodged a “stern protest” with Real Madrid, according to Chinese media reports.

On Tuesday, Mbappé released an apology, stating that his comment was “ill‑judged” and that he now understands it hurt many people in China. La Liga issued a separate statement expressing “deep regret” for the offence caused among Chinese fans. Real Madrid later issued its own apology to the Chinese public.

The incident has been highlighted as an example of the sensitivity surrounding Mao Zedong’s legacy in China, even 50 years after his death. Professor Mobo Gao of Adelaide University noted that many Chinese still view Mao positively, contrasting with more critical perspectives in the West. Chinese social media continued to discuss the episode, with a trending hashtag reportedly exceeding 600 million views, though many users asked what the exact comment had been.

The fallout occurred alongside unrelated sports news, such as Arsenal’s penalty loss to Fleetwood Town in England and the arrival of IOC President Kirsty Coventry in Dakar for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics, as reported by France 24.