# Kylian Mbappé controversy in China > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kylian-mbapp-controversy-in-china > Updated: 2026-10-30T18:34:16.000Z. Sources: 603. Developments: 3. Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé sparked significant outrage in China after referring to a meme featuring his face superimposed on a ‘Chinese dictator’ during an interview on the French program ‘The Bridge’. While he did not explicitly name Mao Zedong, the reference to the founding leader of the People's Republic of China led to immediate commercial and media repercussions. In response to the backlash, Mbappé issued a formal apology in French, English, and Chinese, acknowledging his words were ‘ill-judged’ and expressing that he was ‘sincerely sorry’. Real Madrid and La Liga president Javier Tebas also issued apologies to the Chinese public. The controversy has expanded to include luxury brands, with reports that Dior and Hublot have removed mentions of Mbappé from their Chinese social media channels. In Beijing, Adidas stores have reportedly removed his name and number from Real Madrid jerseys. Commercial losses continue to mount as companies like Dongpeng Beverage, Mengniu Dairy, Milkground, and Eastroc Beverage terminate sponsorships, potentially costing the player 7 million euros annually. Additionally, gaming companies such as Tencent and NetEase are reportedly removing Mbappé from football video games in China. Media restrictions remain in place: China Media Group (CMG) has suspended CCTV broadcasts of La Liga matches, and the streaming platform Migu has removed upcoming Real Madrid fixtures. While Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation, described the reaction as ‘somewhat exaggerated’, Chinese state media has criticized the responses from Mbappé and his club as insufficient or delayed. Public backlash has included reports of fans burning jerseys and destroying advertisements. To mitigate financial risks, La Liga and Tebas issued a statement expressing ‘deep respect for China, its institutions, and its people’. ## Claims - Mbappé reportedly joked in a video about a meme featuring a ‘Chinese dictator’. (reported by 52 sources) - Mengniu terminated its cooperation with Kylian Mbappé with immediate effect. (reported by 37 sources) - The brands cited a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that offends Chinese national sentiments. (reported by 36 sources) - China Media Group suspended the broadcasting of LaLiga matches and Mbappé-related advertisements. (reported by 34 sources) - Real Madrid issued a formal apology to the Chinese people (reported by 21 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-30: Mbappé faces backlash in China over Mao Zedong meme comments Kylian Mbappé faces brand terminations and media suspensions in China after making comments about a meme involving Mao Zedong. 53 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kylian-mbapp-faces-backlash-in-china-over-controversial-meme ### 2026-10-28: China imposes sanctions on La Liga and Mbappé following controversial remarks China has suspended La Liga broadcasts and terminated Mbappé’s sponsorships following his controversial comments regarding a meme of Mao Zedong. 147 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/real-madrid-and-kylian-mbapp-apologize-to-china-over-controversial-meme ### 2026-10-26: Kylian Mbappé apologizes to China following controversial remarks Kylian Mbappé apologized to China after referring to a meme of him as a ‘Chinese dictator’. The remarks triggered sponsorship terminations and a suspension of La Liga broadcasts by Chinese state media. 480 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kylian-mbapp-loses-two-major-chinese-sponsorship-deals --- Cite as: Kylian Mbappé controversy in China. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kylian-mbapp-controversy-in-china