By Islam El-Sakka
China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it takes soccer star Kylian Mbappé's apology "seriously" for comments considered disrespectful to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China. The statement follows a wave of commercial and broadcast repercussions after Mbappé referred to a meme depicting his face on Mao's body as a "Chinese dictator" during an online interview.
Chinese brands cut sponsorship deals
At least three Chinese companies — beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground — announced Tuesday they were ending agreements with Mbappé. Each issued similarly worded statements opposing "any words and actions that hurt national sentiment."
State media suspends broadcasts, demands apologies
China Media Group said it has suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches and other games featuring Mbappé, demanding an apology from La Liga, the player, and his club Real Madrid. The Communist Party's official newspaper, People's Daily, wrote in an online column that once a public figure's speech crosses a red line, "he becomes a brand's negative asset."
Apologies issued by Mbappé, La Liga, and Real Madrid
Mbappé apologized Tuesday, calling his comment "ill-judged" and expressing deep respect for the Chinese people and their history. La Liga president Javier Tebas quickly issued a public apology stressing the league's commitment to its Chinese partnerships. Real Madrid followed with its own apology Wednesday, reiterating respect for the Chinese people.
Meme incident and Mao's complex legacy
In the video clip, Mbappé was asked about his favorite meme of himself and replied it was "a video someone made of a guy ... I think he was a Chinese dictator," before showing an altered image of his face on Mao's blue-suited body. Mao Zedong, who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949, is revered by many but also associated with campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution that caused millions of deaths.
Censorship limits public awareness
Chinese online censorship meant that even as news of Mbappé's lost deals trended Tuesday, many citizens did not know the exact content of his remarks. Comments about top leaders are considered sensitive, and the brands and state media criticizing him did not translate the offending comment. Some Beijing residents said they were vaguely aware of a political controversy, while others felt the reaction was an overreaction.
