HighLights
  1. Mbappé described a meme featuring his face superimposed on Mao Zedong as depicting a Chinese dictator.
  2. Konami suspended promotional material featuring the French forward and stopped producing related player items.
  3. Mbappé called his comments “ill-judged” and apologised.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe’s apology has failed to calm the controversy surrounding his remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, with the fallout extending from sponsorship deals to football video games and Chinese social media.

The France captain apologised on Tuesday, October 27, after a clip from a French podcast circulated online in which he appeared to refer to Mao as a dictator.

However, the backlash continued on Wednesday, with reports stating that Mbappe-related content had been removed or restricted across Chinese platforms. The Chinese version of eFootball has also reportedly dropped the forward following the controversy.

ALSO READ: Kylian Mbappe’s Mao Remark Sparks Controversy In China, Three Brand Deals Reportedly Cancelled

What Did Kylian Mbappe Say About Mao Zedong?

The controversy began after Mbappe discussed internet memes featuring his face superimposed on images of political leaders. During the conversation, he referred to the person in one meme as “some guy, I think he's a Chinese dictator”, apparently referring to Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China.

The clip spread across Chinese social media, triggering criticism from users who viewed the remark as disrespectful towards the country's history and its former leader. The original podcast video was subsequently taken down.

Mao remains a highly sensitive historical figure in China, where jokes perceived as mocking him can provoke a strong public reaction.

Mbappe Issues Apology Amid Growing Backlash

Mbappe responded to the controversy on Tuesday, acknowledging that his remark had caused offence.

“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said in a statement.

“I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”

Despite the apology, the reaction continued. According to AFP, Mbappe's accounts on Chinese social-media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu faced restrictions, while some reports indicated that brands had removed promotional material featuring the footballer. 

eFootball And Other Football Games Remove Mbappe Content

The controversy has also reached the gaming industry. As per reports, Mbappe had been removed from the Chinese version of eFootball following the backlash.

Separately, sources from gaming outlets said China's FC Online operation had begun removing content related to the player from external channels and planned further in-game adjustments. Reports also indicated that the Chinese versions of PES Online and PES Mobile would halt promotional activity involving Mbappe and remove player-related cards or content.

Recommended For You

ALSO READ: Lamine Yamal’s Disappointed Reaction After Harry Kane Wins Ballon d’Or Goes Viral | WATCH

Three Chinese Brands End Sponsorship Deals

The commercial consequences have been more direct. Chinese companies Eastroc Beverage, dairy giant Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech announced that they were ending their partnerships with Mbappe, citing opposition to words or actions that hurt Chinese people's feelings.

China's state television also reportedly halted broadcasts of LaLiga matches and events involving Mbappe, while advertisements featuring him were removed, according to state-backed media reports.

La Liga president Javier Tebas apologised to Chinese fans and said he had met China's ambassador to Spain to discuss the situation. Real Madrid declined to comment, Reuters reported.


Also In News