By Basant El-Faramawy
China has accepted an apology from French football star Kylian Mbappé after he referred to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a "Chinese dictator" during a talk show appearance.
The 27-year-old Real Madrid forward made the comment on the French program "The Bridge" while discussing a meme depicting his face superimposed on Mao's image. He later described the remark as "ill-judged" and said he now understands the hurt it caused.
Official response
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that Beijing takes the apology seriously. In China, Mao is revered as the founder of the People's Republic, and mocking him is considered taboo.
Brand fallout
The backlash began Monday after Chinese football forum Dongqiudi highlighted the comments, calling them inappropriate. Several Chinese brands, including dairy giant Mengniu and beverage company Dongpeng, ended partnerships with Mbappé. State broadcaster CCTV reportedly halted La Liga broadcasts and removed Mbappé from coverage.
Mbappé's accounts on Chinese platforms Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and Weibo were restricted, with Weibo citing violations of community conventions. Luxury brands associated with the player also deleted posts featuring him from their Weibo accounts.
Club and league apologies
Real Madrid issued a formal apology to the Chinese people, expressing deep respect for China's history and culture. La Liga also apologized, saying it deeply regretted the offence caused to Chinese fans.
The controversy dominated Chinese social media, with hashtags calling for boycotts of Mbappé and Real Madrid trending on Weibo. Users criticized the footballer for profiting from the Chinese market while offending national sentiment.
