Kylian Mbappé Faces Chinese Backlash Over Mao Zedong Comments
French star apologizes after controversial remarks trigger widespread commercial and institutional fallout in China.
1The Controversial Podcast Clip
During a behind-the-scenes clip from the French talk show The Bridge, Kylian Mbappé referred to Mao Zedong as a Chinese dictator. The footage, filmed in March, surfaced recently and was subsequently removed from social media. The show’s producers issued a formal apology to Chinese fans and the athlete following the incident.
2Institutional and Media Reprisals
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that remarks hurting the feelings of the Chinese people face opposition from all societal sectors. Consequently, state broadcaster CCTV suspended all coverage of Mbappé and LaLiga matches. News outlets like Dongqiudi refused to translate the comments, citing their potential to offend the national sentiment of the public.
3Commercial Contract Terminations
Major Chinese brands including Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, and Eastroc Beverage terminated partnerships with Mbappé, citing a zero-tolerance policy. These combined contracts were reportedly worth approximately 50 million yuan. Additionally, global brands like Nike and Dior removed promotional content featuring the athlete from their official Weibo accounts to mitigate risks.
4The Dictator Label Context
The controversy originated from a meme trend where fans photoshopped Mbappé onto images of political leaders, playing on his nickname, the dictator. While Mbappé previously acknowledged the nickname, his specific identification of Mao as a dictator triggered a severe reaction. He stated that his comment was ill-judged and not intended to cause offense.
5Historical Sensitivity in China
Parodying Chinese leaders remains a highly sensitive political issue. Mao Zedong is officially viewed as the revolutionary founder of the People’s Republic of China. While international scholars focus on the millions of deaths during his rule, domestic accounts emphasize his role in unifying the country and transforming it into an independent nation.
6Precedent for Corporate Sanctions
This incident follows a history of political friction between international entities and China. In 2019, China paused NBA sponsorship deals after an executive supported Hong Kong protests. Similarly, artists and presenters have faced legal or professional consequences for mocking Mao or comparing President Xi Jinping to Winnie-the-Pooh in the public domain.
7LaLiga’s Diplomatic Efforts
LaLiga President Javier Tebas met with the Chinese Ambassador in Spain to seek solutions and minimize the damage to their broadcasting relationship. Tebas emphasized that a single incident should not destroy years of collaboration. The league aims to protect the interests of millions of Chinese fans who follow their competitions despite the fallout.
8Global Divergence in Perspective
While Mbappé apologized to maintain his standing in the Chinese market, the reaction outside China remains divided. Some Western observers and political committees criticized the athlete for retracting his statement, arguing that the historical characterization of Mao as a dictator is accurate. The situation highlights the complex intersection of celebrity influence and geopolitics.
Original article: TIME — Kylian Mbappé Faces Chinese Backlash Over Mao Zedong Comments