Mbappe Apologizes After 'Ill-Judged' Remarks on Chinese Dictator
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe issues an apology after comments about a Chinese dictator lead to broadcasting bans and a digital erasure in China.
Real Madrid and French sensation Kylian Mbappe has found himself at the center of a diplomatic storm, issuing a formal apology after comments seemingly targeting Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China, sparked a massive backlash. The controversy escalated so quickly that Chinese broadcasters took the drastic step of pulling coverage of the Spanish league and any matches featuring the superstar footballer.
The Meme That Sparked the Fire
The incident traces back to a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) from an interview Mbappe gave ahead of his appearance on the French online talk show 'The Bridge'. During the conversation, Mbappe was asked about his favorite internet meme.
The footballer responded by mentioning a video someone had created of "a guy... I think he was a Chinese dictator." This was followed by a clip showing an altered image where Mbappe's face had been superimposed onto the blue-suited body of Mao Zedong. While fans often jokingly call Mbappe a "dictator" due to his immense influence on the pitch, the reference to a real-world political figure proved to be a costly mistake.
Digital Erasure and Broadcasting Bans
The reaction from China was swift and severe. Beyond the blackout of his matches on television, the fallout extended to the digital realm. Dongqiudi, a prominent Chinese sports website, took the extraordinary step of scrubbing Mbappe's name from their official 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings.
In a move of symbolic erasure, the website replaced his name with the phrase "chá wú cǐ rén", which translates to "no such person exists" or "the person does not exist." This occurred despite Mbappe finishing second in the prestigious award race, which was won by Bayern Munich's Harry Kane.
A Sincere Apology
Recognizing the gravity of the situation and the offense caused, Mbappe took to social media on Tuesday to express his regret. He clarified that his reaction was based on an image of himself and admitted his words were poorly chosen.
"My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurts many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. 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," Mbappe stated.
La Liga Steps In
The controversy didn't just affect the player; it threatened the commercial and cultural ties between Spanish football and one of its largest fanbases. Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, issued his own apology on behalf of the league association via X.
Tebas emphasized the need to protect the relationship between the league and its millions of Chinese supporters, stating:
"We are aware of the harm this matter has caused, and I would like, on behalf of the Spanish league association, to offer our sincere apology to the Chinese people."
The La Liga chief warned that an "individual act" should not be allowed to tarnish the reputation of the more than 20 professional clubs in the competition or alienate the passionate football community in China.