Mbappé Apologizes After Chinese Brands Drop Him Over Mao Joke

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé apologized Oct. 27 for "ill-judged" comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, after several Chinese brands terminated endorsement deals tied to the French forward, the BBC reported. "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," Mbappé said in a statement carried by the BBC. "I apologise to everyone my words have upset."

What Did Mbappé Say About Mao Zedong?

Mbappé made the remark during an interview with French talk show The Bridge, hosted by his Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, according to the BBC. Asked about memes that make him laugh, Mbappé described a clip of "a guy, I think it's a Chinese dictator," before the video cut to a meme superimposing his own face onto an image resembling Mao, the BBC reported. Mbappé did not name Mao directly in the circulating clips and said he "uses it with friends all the time," referencing a running joke about his outsized influence in football, per the BBC. The original interview is no longer available on the show's YouTube channel, and the BBC said it is unclear when the segment first aired.

Why Did Chinese Brands Cut Ties With Mbappé?

The commercial fallout moved quickly once the clip spread. Chinese football forum Dongqiudi flagged the remarks Monday night as "inappropriate" and said they "hurt the feelings of Chinese people," the BBC reported. Screengrabs of the meme and comment then circulated widely on Chinese social media, with some users calling for boycotts of both Mbappé and Real Madrid, according to the BBC. Several Chinese brands terminated partnerships with Mbappé afterward, though the companies did not detail their reasoning in public statements, the BBC said. The report did not specify which brands ended ties or the value of those agreements.

What Did Mbappé and La Liga Say in Their Apologies?

Spain's La Liga also apologized on behalf of the league, saying it "deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappé's recent comments have caused among Chinese fans," the BBC reported. The dual statements — from the player and from the league itself — underscore the commercial stakes: Mbappé is described by the BBC as popular in China with extensive brand endorsements, making Chinese sponsorship a material part of his and the league's broader commercial footprint in Asia.

How Is China's Internet Reacting?

Mao remains a revered figure within China's Communist Party despite a rule the BBC described as "chaotic and often violent" that left millions dead. Criticism of Mao is treated as one of the most sensitive subjects on China's tightly controlled internet, the BBC reported, which may explain the speed of the brand terminations. Some Weibo users have recirculated the clip while blurring the meme itself and redacting Mbappé's reference to a "Chinese dictator," according to the BBC. Dongqiudi said it was "unable to translate" Mbappé's comments because they were "offensive to China and the Chinese people," leaving many users asking what exactly he said, the BBC reported. A small number of posts defended Mbappé, but the BBC noted that is a rare response given the pressure to echo official sentiment on sensitive topics. One widely shared comment on Weibo read: "International public figures, in particular, should show greater respect and sensitivity, as national sentiment must never be taken lightly," per the BBC. Other users accused Mbappé of "profiting from the Chinese market yet making remarks that offend the Chinese public," the BBC reported.

What Happens Next for Mbappé's Business in China?

The BBC's reporting does not specify whether any of the terminated brand relationships could be restored following the apology, nor does it quantify the financial impact of the lost deals. Mbappé's statement and La Liga's own apology suggest both the player and the league are treating the Chinese market — and its brand and broadcast relationships — as commercially significant enough to warrant a direct, public response rather than silence. Whether Chinese consumers and the brands that terminated deals view the apology as sufficient will likely determine if any sponsorships are renewed, though no outlet cited in this report has confirmed such talks are underway.