{
  "id": 16748411,
  "title": "Mbappe apologises over Mao Zedong comment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-apologises-over-mao-zedong-comment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T13:22:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/mbappe-apologises-over-mao-zedong-comment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe has apologised for an ‘ill-judged’ comment on Mao Zedong after two major Chinese brands terminated their partnerships with him. Read More: https://punchng.com/mbappe-apologises-over-mao-zedong-comment/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Kylian Mbappe loses two major China sponsorship deals over Mao Zedong joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/kylian-mbappe-loses-two-major-china-sponsorship-deals-over-mao-zedong",
        "published": "2026-10-27T03:54:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands after Mao Zedong joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-after-mao-zedong-joke",
        "published": "2026-10-27T07:44:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Mbappe says sorry after Mao Zedong joke sparks China brand boycott",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-says-sorry-after-mao-zedong-joke-sparks-china-brand-boycott",
        "published": "2026-10-27T13:27:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}