Kylian Mbappé faces severe backlash in China over controversial meme

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has become the center of a major diplomatic and commercial storm in China. The controversy erupted after a clip from a French online chat show surfaced, in which the player discussed a meme that superimposed his face onto an image of the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, referring to him as a "Chinese dictator."

The reaction in China was swift and severe. Multiple major brands, including Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground, terminated their lucrative sponsorship deals with the French star. Furthermore, reports indicate that Chinese television has moved to suspend broadcasts of LaLiga matches, prompting league president Javier Tebas to intervene directly to salvage the competition's standing in the country.

Official response and apology

"At LALIGA, we deeply regret Kylian Mbappé’s comments, which have caused offense and upset in China. We understand the harm caused and, on behalf of LALIGA, I want to offer my sincere apologies to the Chinese people."

Javier Tebas

"My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world."

Kylian Mbappé

Tebas emphasized that LaLiga is working urgently with its partners to resolve the situation, stressing that the league's multi-year relationship with China should not be defined by a single incident. Mbappé has since issued a formal apology, stating that he holds deep respect for Chinese history and that his previous remarks were never intended to cause offense.