Real Madrid apologise to China over Mbappe comments

Real Madrid issued an apology on Wednesday to China following remarks made by star player Kylian Mbappe, which sparked controversy and led to La Liga being pulled from state TV in the country. The striker, in a French interview, made a joke about Mao Zedong, a Chinese historical figure infamous for his alleged involvement in millions of deaths.

This light-hearted comment was seen as highly offensive in China, leading to a backlash from social media users and suspensions of Real Madrid's matches in the country. Mbappe's apology, acknowledging the hurt caused, came the day after Real Madrid's statement expressing regret for the offensive remarks. The Chinese government's response was firm, with foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stating they took the apology seriously.

Other Chinese companies, like Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground, also withdrew their partnerships with the player. Some major international brands, such as Dior and Hublot, removed their content related to Mbappe on Chinese social media platforms. La Liga's suspension from Chinese television and CMG's decision to halt broadcasts of the league further underscored the impact of Mbappe's comments on Chinese public sentiment.