Mbappe says sorry after Mao Zedong joke sparks China brand boycott
BEIJING: Kylian Mbappe apologised on Tuesday after the Real Madrid star was dropped by major Chinese brands for apparently joking about Mao Zedong in a video that has gone viral.
Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappe has issued an apology for his "ill-judged" comment about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong following the termination of partnerships with two major Chinese brands. In a statement on X, Mbappe admitted that his remark had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities worldwide and expressed regret for the offense caused.
The controversy arose after the video surfaced, in which Mbappe described a meme featuring his face on Mao's image as the funniest he had seen, seemingly referring to Mao as "some guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator." Dongpeng Beverage, a Chinese drinks manufacturer, and Mengniu, China's largest dairy producer, terminated their partnerships with Mbappe due to their opposition to remarks deemed offensive to national sentiments.
Written by urgent.news from Punch's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
