Kylian Mbappé Controversy: Mao Zedong Meme Joke Sparks Public Outrage in China

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé is facing an off-field reputation crisis after a joke about a Mao Zedong meme sparked widespread public anger across China. Within a very short period, three major corporations terminated all commercial partnerships with the French National Team Captain. Meanwhile, China Media Group (CMG) - the state-owned broadcaster operating the CCTV network - suspended all La Liga match broadcasts.

This controversy originated from a clipped interview segment for the social media programme The Bridge. In the footage, Mbappé discussed an internet meme where his face had been edited onto the body of Mao Zedong, the revolutionary founding leader of the People's Republic of China.

When asked about the most striking internet meme he had encountered, Mbappé referred to the figure in the image as the "Chinese dictator". While he did not explicitly name Mao, the visual was clearly identifiable as the former Chinese leader.

The video triggered fierce backlash, as Mao Zedong holds a central, revered position in China's official national history and identity. What began as an offhand remark from a Football star quickly escalated into a commercial crisis, club reputation scandal, and threat to Spanish football's entire Business relationship with the Chinese market.

Three Chinese Sponsors Terminate Partnerships

The fastest reaction came from the commercial sector. Chinese beverage manufacturer Dongpeng was the first company to publicly announce it was ending collaboration with Mbappé. The brand had previously featured the footballer in marketing campaigns for its electrolyte drinks, including artificial intelligence generated advertising content.

"Our company firmly opposes and will not tolerate any behaviour that offends national sentiment," read Dongpeng's official public statement.

Major Chinese dairy producer Mengniu and cheese brand Milkground followed suit, both announcing immediate termination of their partnership agreements with Mbappé as the controversy spread.

Losing three major commercial partners at once represents a severe blow to Mbappé's public image in one of the world's largest consumer markets. Prior to this incident, his likeness was used across promotional material for drinks, dairy products and cheese lines.

None of the three companies have disclosed the exact value of their terminated contracts, meaning the full scale of Mbappé's financial losses cannot yet be confirmed.

Mbappé's domestic digital presence has also been impacted. His account on the Xiaohongshu platform has been restricted, while Weibo users began receiving notifications that they could no longer follow his Profile due to platform policy violations.

CCTV Suspends La Liga Broadcasts

The fallout did not remain limited to Mbappé's personal sponsorship deals. State broadcaster China Media Group has reportedly suspended all broadcast coverage of La Liga matches.

This decision expanded the impact of the controversy across the entire Spanish football industry. La Liga has long placed high priority on maintaining its international reach and commercial broadcast partnerships, including its long-running agreement in China.

The broadcast suspension will cut off local fans' access to matches in the league Mbappé competes in. Real Madrid has also come under heavy scrutiny, as Mbappé is one of the club's marquee players and a core global commercial asset.

No official figures have been released regarding potential broadcast rights losses or total financial impact. Regardless, this incident demonstrates how reputational risk from a single player can spill over to affect their entire club and the competition they represent.

Mbappé Issues Apology In Three Languages

As public anger continued to escalate, Mbappé published an official apology on Tuesday 27 October 2026, translated into French, Mandarin Chinese and English.

He acknowledged his comment was inappropriate, and stated he now understood his words had caused hurt to people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

"My comment was unwise. I now understand that these words have hurt many people in China and Chinese communities across the globe. I apologise to everyone who was offended by what I said," Mbappé stated, as quoted by Channel NewsAsia.

Chinese authorities formally acknowledged the apology. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the matter during an official press briefing on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

However the apology has not ended the controversy. Critical commentary continues to appear across Chinese social media, while the suspension of sponsorships and La Liga broadcasts remain fully in place.

Real Madrid And La Liga Intervene

Mounting pressure over Mbappé's remarks dragged both Real Madrid and La Liga directly into the crisis. On Wednesday 28 October 2026, the Madrid club issued its own public apology to the Chinese public over their player's comments.

Real Madrid also formally endorsed Mbappé's apology, confirming that the player had expressed sincere regret for his statement.

La Liga president Javier Tebas also moved to de-escalate tensions, confirming he held an official meeting with Yao Jing, China's Ambassador to Spain, to discuss the fallout from the controversy and work towards a resolution.

Tebas emphasised that China remains a core strategic partner for La Liga, and stated his hope that the actions of one individual would not damage the long-standing relationship, nor disrupt the experience for millions of Chinese football fans.

"We remain committed to working together to ensure that an isolated individual incident does not undermine the important progress we have built together, nor affect the millions of Chinese fans that follow our competition. China is, and will remain, a strategic partner for La Liga," Tebas stated, as cited by Channel NewsAsia.

The public responses from Real Madrid and La Liga underscore the major commercial stakes at play. Amid fierce global competition for fan attention, maintaining positive relations with the Chinese market is a core pillar of Spanish football's business strategy.

Why Did A Joke About Mao Zedong Trigger Such A Severe Backlash?

Mao Zedong is the central figure of modern Chinese history, and the founding leader of the People's Republic of China established in 1949. He retains an official revered status in the country's national narrative, despite his leadership legacy also being associated with controversial policies and major human tragedies - most notably the mass famine that occurred during the Great Leap Forward campaign.

Due to this historical and political status, dismissive or mocking remarks about Mao are widely interpreted inside China as an insult to a national symbol. Internet jokes that may be considered harmless in one country can carry drastically different weight when they touch on the core history and identity of another society.

The Mbappé case highlights the unique challenges faced by public figures with global reach. An offhand comment can spread across borders in minutes, while the damage to consumer trust, sponsor relations and business partnerships can endure for far longer.

This controversy represents a major test for Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga as they attempt to rebuild trust with the Chinese public. While apologies have now been issued, repairing damaged reputations and commercial relationships will require far more than just formal public statements.