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Real Madrid and La Liga have issued formal apologies to the Chinese public following controversial remarks made by forward Kylian Mbappe regarding a meme depicting China’s former leader Mao Zedong. The Spanish club stated that it holds deep respect for China’s history and culture as public and commercial fallout from the incident escalates across the country.
Official Apologies from Real Madrid and La Liga
Real Madrid released an official statement on Wednesday addressing the ongoing controversy caused by Mbappe’s comments. “Real Madrid wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort that may have been caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappé,” the club stated. The statement added that the club “holds deep respect for China, its history, its culture, and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who feel affection and admiration for Real Madrid,” while reaffirming its desire to join the player in his public apology and strengthen cultural ties.
La Liga also released a statement saying it “deeply regrets the offence caused” to supporters in China, clarifying that the remarks were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the league. Expressing an apology on behalf of Spanish football, La Liga announced plans to work with interlocutors in China and implement a communication and awareness protocol with clubs and players to promote respect for different cultures. Reports indicate that Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches in response to the controversy.
Context of Mbappe’s Comments and His Response
The controversy stems from an appearance by Mbappe on The Bridge, a YouTube show hosted by his Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni. In unverified online clips, Mbappe discussed a meme superimposing his face onto a historical image, describing it as featuring “a guy, I think it’s a Chinese dictator,” and stating that the image “makes me laugh the most.” The person in the image was Mao Zedong, the founding leader of modern China who died in 1976. While Mao’s historical policies remain controversial globally, mocking his figure remains strictly regulated and taboo within China.
Mbappe issued a public apology on Tuesday expressing regret for his words. “During a recent interview, I reacted to an image featuring myself,” Mbappe said. “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. That was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and I am sincerely sorry.”
Mbappe had previously addressed dressing room jokes regarding the “dictator” label during a September interview with L’Equipe. He noted at the time that while some memes were light-hearted, being compared to historical figures who caused immense harm showed a “lack of political and human awareness.”
Reactions and Commercial Impact in China
Reaction in China was swift, with Chinese football forum Dongqiudi labeling the interview “inappropriate” and harmful to the feelings of the Chinese people. On Tuesday morning, Reuters reported that four topics related to Mbappe were trending among the top 10 searches on the social media platform Weibo, with numerous users calling for a boycott to reduce the player’s commercial value.
Addressing the issue, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters that words or actions damaging the sentiments of the Chinese public “will naturally be met with joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”
The controversy has already resulted in financial consequences for the French international. Major Chinese dairy producer Mengniu announced an immediate suspension of its partnership with Mbappe, citing a “zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.” Other major Chinese brands, including Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, Eastroc Beverage, and drinks company Dongpeng, have similarly severed or suspended their commercial agreements with the player.
