Mbappé apologizes to China after laughing at Mao meme
France striker Kylian Mbappé issued an apology to Chinese fans after comments about a meme depicting Mao Zedong, a statement La Liga also backed, prompting criticism over the handling of the matter.
Kylian Mbappé has apologized to Chinese fans after making comments on a French talk show that drew backlash in China. The Real Madrid striker said he had been referring to a meme he found funny, one that superimposed his face over an image of what appeared to be Mao Zedong. Mbappé said his remarks were "ill-judged" and that he now understood they had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
The comments were made during an appearance on "The Bridge," a French talk show hosted by his national-team teammate Aurelien Tchouameni. Mbappé said the meme that made him laugh the most showed a video of a figure he described as a Chinese dictator, with his own face placed over it. The show then cut to an example of the meme, which featured his face covering an image of Mao. In a statement released on Tuesday, Mbappé wrote that he had deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and that he was sincerely sorry.
La Liga followed with its own statement, saying it deeply regretted the offense caused by Mbappé's comments among Chinese fans. The league said the remarks were made in a personal capacity and did not represent LALIGA, and it apologized on behalf of the league and all its clubs to the extent of its institutional responsibility.
The episode came during a difficult stretch for Mbappé. He entered the 2026 World Cup with France as clear favorites but lost 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals. He then lost the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player, to Harry Kane. Earlier in the season he scored a brace in the "El Clásico" against Barcelona, though Real Madrid's goal differential of +15 through the first 10 league matches trailed Barcelona's +29.
OutKick commentator Dan Dakich argued that the apology was driven by commercial interests. Dakich said Mbappé has a large presence in China through commercials, billboards and business deals spanning products from cheese to soft drinks, and that this business was now at risk. He pointed to the case of Daryl Morey, the former Houston Rockets general manager whose 2019 tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters led to a backlash from Chinese partners. Dakich said that athletes who speak freely in the United States often retreat when they face pressure from China, citing LeBron James as an example.
China's Minister of Foreign Affairs also criticized the remarks, telling Europeans and others that those who get in bed with Communist China should "shut your damn mouth" and take their money. Mao's rule is widely associated with tens of millions of deaths through famine and politically motivated persecution, a record that makes the meme's subject a sensitive one in China. The controversy highlights the commercial pressures that international athletes and leagues face when they operate in one of the world's largest sports markets.
6
