Mbappé apologizes for calling Mao a dictator, sparks social media backlash

Kylian Mbappé apologized this week after his comments on memes comparing him to Mao Zedong sparked a diplomatic and commercial crisis with China. The Real Madrid striker released an official statement, but the reversal immediately triggered a new controversy, this time on Western social media.

It all started as a joke: Mbappé had publicly made fun of viral memes comparing him to the founder of the People’s Republic of China, calling Mao Zedong a “Chinese dictator.” Beijing’s reaction was swift. Several Chinese sponsors terminated their contracts with the player, and CCTV, the official La Liga broadcaster in China, suspended coverage of matches featuring the French international — a decision with major consequences for Real Madrid’s visibility in the Asian market.

Faced with these financial losses, Mbappé chose to back down. His apology statement immediately sparked an avalanche of outraged comments. “What wouldn’t he do to try to keep his contracts,” one user on X summarized. Others were more cutting: “Apologizing for calling Mao a dictator. The cleanest PR speedrun I’ve ever seen.” Or: “You should never capitulate to these enemies of free speech, especially when it was just a joke.”

The affair also took on an institutional dimension. La Liga president Javier Tebas spoke out to distance himself from the France captain’s initial remarks, emphasizing the considerable economic stakes the Chinese market represents for Spanish football.

This turbulent start to the week comes at an already delicate moment for Mbappé, who has just been overtaken by Harry Kane in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Between the diplomatic controversy, sponsor losses, and this individual setback, the French international is going through a particularly turbulent period.