Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe Extend Apologies to China Amid Controversy

Real Madrid's Apology to Chinese Fans

Madrid: Real Madrid has issued an apology to the people of China following comments made by forward Kylian Mbappe, who referred to Mao Zedong as a 'dictator.' The club emphasized its respect for China's rich history, culture, and its citizens amidst the ongoing backlash.

The Spanish football club expressed regret over the discomfort caused by Mbappe's remarks, which he also publicly acknowledged, stating that his comments had offended individuals in China and among Chinese communities worldwide.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Real Madrid CF said, "We apologize to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappe." They further added, "Our club holds a profound respect for China, its history, culture, and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who admire Real Madrid."

The controversy began after a segment aired on the French talk show "The Bridge," where Mbappe laughed at a meme that depicted his face overlaid on an image of Mao, the former leader of the People's Republic of China.

As reported by the BBC, Mbappe commented, "The meme that makes me laugh the most is the one where there's a video of a guy; I think it's a Chinese dictator..." He laughed as the clip transitioned to the meme featuring his face.

This sparked significant backlash from Chinese fans, leading to three Chinese companies reportedly terminating their sponsorship deals with the player. Additionally, state-owned media outlet The Global Times indicated that CCTV's news apps would refrain from featuring content related to Mbappe and would cease broadcasting La Liga matches.

In response, Mbappe issued an apology, acknowledging that his comment was poorly considered and recognizing the pain it caused.

"My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," he stated. "I apologize to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry," he added.

Real Madrid reiterated its support for Mbappe's public apology, emphasizing the importance of respect and understanding between cultures. The club expressed its commitment to strengthening ties with China and its citizens.

"Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to the values of respect, coexistence, and understanding between cultures and expresses its desire to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and affection that unite it with China and its citizens," the club stated.

This incident follows an apology from LaLiga, which clarified that Mbappe's comments were made in a personal context and did not reflect the league's views. LaLiga president Javier Tebas also apologized to Chinese fans and announced plans to establish a communication protocol with clubs and players to prevent similar issues in the future.