Mocking Mao Zedong is a major taboo in China, a critical market for high-profile athletes and global sports organizations.
Real Madrid issued a formal apology on Wednesday after their star player, Kylian Mbappé, sparked intense backlash in China by referring to the nation’s former leader, Mao Zedong, as a “dictator.”
After initial apologies from both Mbappé and La Liga failed to calm the growing outrage, La Liga President Javier Tebas established a crisis management unit and held meetings with Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing.
The incident underscores the significant commercial risks facing athletes and brands in the Chinese market, where satire regarding Mao Zedong—the founding leader who ruled from 1949 until 1976—remains a highly sensitive social taboo.
“Real Madrid CF wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappé,” the club stated.
“Our club maintains a deep respect for China, its history, its culture and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who feel affection and admiration for Real Madrid,” the statement continued.
Real Madrid Match Withdrawn from Broadcast
China’s state-owned broadcaster, Migu, has announced it will not air Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga match against Racing Santander this Sunday. Additionally, several Chinese brands, including dairy giants Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, as well as Eastroc Beverage, have terminated all endorsement deals with Mbappé.
While Migu is scheduled to broadcast nine of the ten La Liga matches this weekend, Real Madrid’s fixture is the sole exception. Migu has not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters.
In a decisive move, La Liga established a crisis unit and coordinated with Real Madrid, signaling a temporary truce in the long-standing power struggle between President Tebas and the club. Following the club’s official apology, sources within La Liga indicated that Tebas is considering a trip to China to mitigate the threat of significant financial losses for Spanish football.
La Liga is also evaluating ways to strengthen its institutional ties with Beijing to address concerns over declining revenues, as Chinese state media awaits further diplomatic gestures.
The controversy stems from a video on a French podcast—which has since been removed—in which Mbappé discussed a meme featuring his face photoshopped onto an image he described as “some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator.”
The memes, which have circulated online, superimpose Mbappé’s likeness onto various political and military leaders, a trend that led the European press to occasionally refer to him by the nickname “the dictator.”
On Wednesday, when questioned about the apology, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, “We take seriously the apology that the person has made.”
Also Read
- Syrian Textbook Overhaul Removes Mona Lisa and Western Imagery Amid Conservative Curriculum Shift
- Spanish Transport Minister Addresses Media Following Deadly Madrid Train Collision
- Singapore Calls Ten Firm Executives to Discuss Haze; Ministers Seek Joint Action on Air Quality
- Gulf States Pursue Regional Security Framework to De-escalate Tensions with Iran
