Chinese Companies Cut Ties with Mbappe Over 'Mao'.. French Player: I Expressed My Sincere Regret
Kylian Mbappe officially apologizes after Chinese companies cut ties with him due to sarcastic comments about Mao Zedong.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
A group of Chinese brands severed ties with Kylian Mbappé, the French national team and Real Madrid striker, over comments attributed to him regarding the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
In a video that circulated online on Monday, Mbappé was heard saying that the funniest image he had seen of himself was one in which his face had been Photoshopped onto that of “someone, I think a Chinese dictator.”
His remarks are believed to refer to a satirical image showing Mbappé’s face superimposed on Mao’s, one of several images that have combined the French player’s face with those of other historical figures.
In China, mocking Mao or making jokes about the country’s founding leader, who ruled from 1949 until his death in 1976, is considered an insult and remains a social taboo.
The state-run China Daily newspaper said his comments about the satirical image online sparked a fierce backlash among his Chinese fans, threatened his lucrative commercial partnerships, and served as a stark reminder of the limits of celebrity influence.
The controversy has made Mbappé, one of the world’s leading sports stars who holds endorsement deals with brands such as On running shoes, the Accor hotel chain, and Lego, the latest celebrity to face repercussions for controversial remarks in China.
Other leading companies and institutions that have previously angered Beijing, Chinese internet users, and Chinese media include fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, Swiss watchmaker Swatch, and the National Basketball Association.
On Tuesday, the French star expressed his “sincere regret” and issued an apology, acknowledging that his statement about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong was “ill-advised,” after a wave of discontent in China led to the cancellation of advertising contracts with him.
In a statement, the Real Madrid player said, “I offer my apologies to anyone who was offended by my words. That was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am truly sorry.”
