{
  "id": 16760673,
  "title": "Chinese state TV suspends La Liga broadcasts after Mbappe remark",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/chinese-state-tv-suspends-la-liga-broadcasts-after-mbappe-remark",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-27T15:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/10/27/chinese-state-tv-suspends-la-liga-broadcasts-after-mbappe-remark"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese state television has halted broadcasts of La Liga matches following Kylian Mbappe's controversial remarks, which reportedly included a joke about Mao Zedong. The 25-year-old French forward apologized for his ill-judged comment, acknowledging that it had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. Mbappe's comment, which involved a photo-shopped image of himself alongside Mao, was deemed inappropriate due to the Mao-era policies that caused mass starvation and millions of deaths. Despite La Liga's apology, state-owned China Media Group (CMG) decided to suspend broadcasts on Monday, before both Mbappe and the Spanish league expressed regret. CMG demanded an apology from Real Madrid, stating that no further discussion would take place until it was received. Major Chinese brands, including Dongpeng, withdrew their campaigns featuring Mbappe in light of the controversy.",
  "summary": "The league and Kylian Mbappe have both apologised, with the Real Madrid star describing his comment about Mao Zedong as ‘ill-judged’.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands for 'offending national sentiments'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offending-national-sentiments",
        "published": "2026-10-27T04:07:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands for 'offending national sentiments'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offending-national-sentiments-16706749",
        "published": "2026-10-27T04:27:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands for 'offending national sentiments'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offending-national-sentiments-16708261",
        "published": "2026-10-27T04:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Chinese brands axe Mbappe over alleged Chairman Mao meme comments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/chinese-brands-axe-mbappe-over-alleged-chairman-mao-meme-comments",
        "published": "2026-10-27T04:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Mbappe dropped by Chinese brands for 'offending national sentiments'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/mbappe-dropped-by-chinese-brands-for-offending-national-sentiments-16724764",
        "published": "2026-10-27T07:45:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Chinese brands drop Mbappe over alleged Mao Zedong joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/chinese-brands-drop-mbappe-over-alleged-mao-zedong-joke",
        "published": "2026-10-27T08:14:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Chinese brands drop Mbappe as backlash grows over Mao joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/chinese-brands-drop-mbappe-as-backlash-grows-over-mao-joke-16739170",
        "published": "2026-10-27T10:19:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}