Kylian Mbappe Apologizes for Controversial Comments Amid Chinese Broadcasts Fallout
Mbappe's Apology Following Controversial Remarks
Paris [France], October 27: Kylian Mbappe, the French football sensation and Real Madrid star, has publicly apologized for remarks that appeared to reference Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China. This came after Chinese broadcasters decided to halt coverage of La Liga matches, including those featuring Mbappe, due to his comments, as reported by a sports news outlet.
The issue arose from a clip of Mbappe's interview prior to his appearance on the French online talk show 'The Bridge', which circulated on social media.
In the interview, Mbappe, who is often humorously dubbed a 'dictator' by fans for his commanding presence on the pitch, was asked about his favorite meme. He responded by mentioning a video depicting a Chinese dictator, which was accompanied by a manipulated image of his face superimposed on Zedong's body.
In response to the backlash, the Chinese sports platform Dongqiudi removed Mbappe's name from its official 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings, replacing it with the phrase 'chá wù cǎi rén', which translates to 'no such person exists'. Meanwhile, Harry Kane, the English striker currently with Bayern Munich, was awarded the Ballon d'Or, with Mbappe finishing in second place.
On Tuesday, Mbappe took to social media to express his regret. He stated, 'In a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was poorly considered, and I now realize it has hurt many individuals in China and among Chinese communities globally. I sincerely apologize to everyone affected by my words; that was never my intention. I hold deep respect for the Chinese people and their rich history.'
Additionally, Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, extended an apology to the Chinese populace on behalf of the league, acknowledging the distress caused by the incident. He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with Chinese fans, stating, 'We cannot let a single incident damage this relationship or negatively impact the more than 20 clubs involved in our professional competitions, along with millions of Chinese supporters.'