Mbappé apologises to China over his Mao Zedong joke as two Chinese sponsors end their deals

On Monday, the night of the Ballon d’Or where he finished second behind Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé answered a throwaway question in an interview: which internet meme with his face made him laugh most? “A video with a Chinese dictator”, he said, one he uses “a lot with my friends when we play on the PlayStation”. He never said Mao Zedong’s name: the montage layers his face over the founder of the People’s Republic of China. By Tuesday morning, the Chinese football site Dongqiudi had refused to translate words it called “offensive to China and the Chinese people”, two sponsors had torn up their contracts and state television had pulled La Liga.

Dongpeng and Mengniu walk away, state TV pulls La Liga

Dongpeng, the drinks brand that signed him in April, did not wait: “We are ending with immediate effect any collaboration with Kylian Mbappé”, citing its “zero tolerance policy”. Mengniu, the dairy giant, issued a near-identical statement and is withdrawing its advertising. According to The Global Times, cited by EFE, and the state group CMG, cited by AFP, public television has suspended La Liga broadcasts and all content featuring the striker. The stock exchange followed: his new sponsor On dropped about 3.5% in pre-market trading.

La Liga apologises, the Chinese government steps in, so does Mbappé

La Liga president Javier Tebas published a statement on X: “We deeply regret Kylian Mbappé’s remarks, which caused distress and offence in China”, with apologies “on behalf of La Liga and all its clubs”. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, added at a press briefing: “Any words or acts that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally meet with the shared rejection of the whole of Chinese society.”

Mbappé responded before 1pm with a statement in French, English and Chinese: “That remark was clumsy and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and within the Chinese community around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have hurt.” He stressed his “deep respect for the Chinese people and their history”. On Xiaohongshu (one million followers), he is blocked from posting “for violating community rules”.

The reports diverge: two contracts ended (RMC Sport, franceinfo), several partnerships hit elsewhere, a filming date in March according to Le Monde, Monday according to franceinfo and So Foot. The value of the deals is unknown. The bill runs beyond one player: China, Real Madrid’s biggest market according to Le Monde, no longer sees La Liga or any advert featuring Mbappé.