The key facts

  • Mbappe called Mao Zedong a 'Chinese dictator' in a podcast while discussing a meme, and then apologized
  • Chinese brands Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage ended their cooperation with the footballer
  • LaLiga president Javier Tebas set up a crisis task force and met with Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing

The scandal over remarks about Mao

The president of the French Football Federation Philippe Diallo on Thursday defended Kylian Mbappe, telling the newspaper Ouest-France that the Real Madrid forward had apologized and explained the context of his remarks, and expressed hope that the scandal would not drag on. In his words, the incident should be left in the past so that the 27-year-old footballer can continue his season in peace.

Commercial and organizational consequences

The reaction in China was tangible: the state streaming service Migu will not broadcast Real's match against Racing Santander on Sunday, while the brands Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage ended their cooperation with Mbappe. Real and LaLiga issued apologies, and league president Javier Tebas set up a crisis task force and met with Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing on Wednesday, Anadolu reports citing local media.

Origin of the conflict

The trigger was an internet meme depicting Mbappe as a political leader and playing on jokes about his influence at club level. In a deleted podcast excerpt, the footballer called the figure depicted 'some guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator.' China Daily noted that the words 'caused a storm among Chinese fans, put his lucrative commercial contracts at risk, and served as a sharp reminder of the limits of celebrity influence.'