The Real Madrid forward apologised to China over a meme comment after Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground ended their cooperation
Mbappé apologises as Chinese sponsors end deals over meme remark
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Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has apologised in a statement to people in China after a clip of him discussing a meme led at least three Chinese brands to end their deals with him.
In the clip, which circulated widely online on 26 October, Mbappé is asked about memes of himself and picks one that puts his face on a man he says he thinks is “a Chinese dictator.” The video then cuts to an altered image of Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China.
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Mbappé does not name Mao, and the clip appears to come from a backstage interview filmed before an appearance on the French online show The Bridge.
How have Chinese brands responded?
Dongpeng Beverage, dairy producer Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground ended their cooperation with Mbappé on 27 October. The brands said they have zero tolerance for behaviour that offends national sentiment. Dongpeng ran AI generated adverts in China showing Mbappé drinking its sports drink during the 2026 World Cup.
China Media Group, the state owned company that oversees broadcaster CCTV, said state television is suspending La Liga broadcasts. It said it made the decision on Monday, before the apology, and called on Real Madrid to apologise, adding that it would not discuss anything until the club did.
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Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said words and actions that hurt the feelings of Chinese people would meet rejection from all sectors of Chinese society. La Liga, for its part, said it regretted the offence and that Mbappé made the remarks in a personal capacity.
What did Mbappé say in his apology?
Mbappé published a statement on 27 October in French, Chinese and English. He called his comment “ill-judged” and said it “hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.”
He wrote that this was “absolutely not my intention” and that he has “deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”
