One joke has turned into a costly mistake for football superstar Kylian Mbappé, raising questions about how far celebrities can go with humour before it damages their international careers.
French football star Kylian Mbappé has apologised to Chinese people after comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked widespread outrage and cost him several sponsorship deals.
The Real Madrid forward admitted that his remarks were ill-judged and had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
I apologise to everyone my words have upset,” Mbappé said, adding that he had deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
The controversy began after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing his favourite internet memes. He described one featuring a man he believed was a Chinese dictator, before an image appeared showing his face superimposed onto Mao’s body.Although Mbappé did not mention Mao by name, the image was widely interpreted as referring to the former leader, whose legacy remains politically and historically sensitive in China.
The remarks triggered a backlash on Chinese social media, with some users criticising the footballer for making light of a figure regarded by many Chinese people as central to the country’s modern history.The fallout quickly spread to the commercial world, with at least three Chinese companies announcing that they were ending their partnerships with the football star.
Beverage manufacturer Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground were among the companies that cut ties with Mbappé, citing opposition to words or actions that hurt Chinese national sentiment.The controversy also affected football broadcasting in China. Reports indicated that China Media Group suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches and removed advertisements featuring the player.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Football Association reportedly demanded a formal public apology from both Mbappé and Real Madrid following the incident.The Spanish league, La Liga, also expressed regret over the offence caused to Chinese fans and said it would work to address the situation.
The incident highlights the risks international celebrities face when public remarks clash with cultural and political sensitivities in major markets.For Mbappé, the apology marks an attempt to contain the fallout, but the loss of sponsorships demonstrates how a brief comment can have consequences far beyond the football pitch.
