Kylian Mbappé Issues Apology After China Mao Humor Controversy

Real Madrid star football player Kylian Mbappé became the center of a major controversy in China due to a shared social media humor clip comparing his face to Mao Zedong. Following Chinese brands suspending sponsorships and state television halting La Liga broadcasts, Mbappé, his club Real Madrid, and La Liga published successive apology statements.

Attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday night, Kylian Mbappé faced a controversy that spread rapidly on Chinese social media at the same time. Football fans uncovered an old video clip featuring the star player's face compared to China's historical leader Mao Zedong, recounting a meme he laughed at the most. Following this development, Chinese brands severed ties with the player one by one, while China Media Group, the umbrella group of state broadcaster CCTV, announced it suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a remark regarding the issue, "Words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally face joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society." Due to Mao's almost sacredly regarded status in the country and advanced censorship systems, a large portion of internet users reacted without knowing exactly what the incident was. While social media algorithms and the controlled internet environment amplified the wave of anger, Kylian Mbappé stated in his announcement that he was sincerely sorry for the "thoughtless" comment. His club Real Madrid and the Spanish league La Liga also shared official apology texts regarding the matter.