Mbappe Joke Halts Chinese Sponsors

Chinese state television has suspended all broadcasts of La Liga matches involving Kylian Mbappe. The network also removed every advertisement featuring the Real Madrid forward. This move follows a viral video in which the French striker joked about a digital image of his face placed on the portrait of Mao Zedong.

Two major Chinese corporations cut their commercial ties with Mbappe on Tuesday. Dongpeng, a beverage company, terminated its contract with immediate effect. The firm stated it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that offends national sentiments. Mengniu, the country's largest dairy producer, also ended its partnership. Reports indicate that global brands including Dior and Hublot removed Mbappe-related content from their Weibo accounts.

The controversy stems from a video that was purportedly filmed in April. The clip, shared by the French football podcast The Bridge on Monday, shows Mbappe preparing for a broadcast. He describes a meme featuring his face superimposed on a figure he identifies as a Chinese dictator. Although the video has since been taken down, it circulated widely on social platforms.

Mbappe issued an apology on Tuesday. He described his comment as ill-judged and acknowledged that it hurt many people in China and within Chinese communities globally. The statement, released in French, Mandarin, and English, said he reacted to an image of himself and did not intend to cause offense. He expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.

Chinese authorities responded to the apology on Wednesday. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters that the government takes the apology seriously. Social media platforms tightened their grip on the story. Xiaohongshu froze Mbappe's account, which holds at least one million followers, preventing him from gaining new ones. Weibo banned him from following other users, citing a violation of community conventions.

State media outlets criticized the remarks without repeating the specific words used. China Daily noted that the incident offered a sharp reminder of the limits of celebrity influence in China. The Global Times stated that consumers expect respect and do not accept being profited from while being disrespected. State television described the incident as involving inappropriate remarks concerning China.

La Liga President Javier Tebas met with the Chinese ambassador in Spain to seek solutions. Tebas said the league regrets the discomfort caused and views China as a strategic partner. Reuters reported that Tebas is considering a trip to China to mitigate financial losses. Real Madrid issued its own apology on Wednesday, expressing respect for China's history, culture, and citizens.

Sports sponsorship expert Terrence Burns said Mbappe's team should have understood the cost of Chinese endorsements. This incident follows a pattern in which global athletes have faced backlash for commenting on sensitive political topics. In 2019, China suspended NBA sponsorship deals and pulled games from television for a year after similar disputes.