Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe don apologize after comments wey e make about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong cause Chinese sponsors to drop am and provoke backlash from Chinese state television, according to CBS Sports. Di incident happen one day after di 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony for London Palladium, where Mbappe leave without any award.
CBS Sports report say di matter start when Mbappe appear on French talk show The Bridge and talk about one meme wey make am laugh. E describe di video as one guy wey e think na ‘a Chinese dictator.’ Di clip also show Mbappe face on an image wey resemble Mao Zedong. One report from Plataforma Media note say Mbappe never mention Mao Zedong name inside di clip, but China foreign ministry and two sponsors still treat am as insult.
Al Jazeera report say di Real Madrid man lose Chinese sponsors over di comment. Channels Television also report say e apologize for di Mao Zedong comment after Chinese sponsors drop am. Plataforma Media add say major Chinese brands terminate commercial partnerships with Mbappe following online backlash over di comments about Mao Zedong.
Goal.com report say China halt broadcasts of di Spanish league.
CBS Sports explain say di ‘dictator’ joke na recurring meme around Mbappe, tied to him influence for football and how e dey relate with teammates and players. During di 2026 World Cup, 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele call am ‘Mbappe Mobut,’ referring to Mobutu, di dictator wey rule Democratic Republic of Congo for more than 30 years.
In September, Mbappe address di memes for France Football interview. E talk say although e understand di jokes, dem ‘sometimes reveal a lack of political and human awareness among people.’ E add say being compared to people wey murder others or make millions miserable no match wetin e do for him own life.
