Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has apologised over the Mbappé China controversy after comments apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a “Chinese dictator” sparked widespread criticism and prompted major Chinese companies to terminate commercial relationships with him.
The France captain issued the apology on Tuesday after a video circulated online showing him discussing an internet meme in which his face had been superimposed on an image resembling Mao, founder of the People’s Republic of China.
“My comment was ill judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.
“I apologise 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.” - Mbappé
Chinese Companies Move Quickly
The commercial fallout was immediate.
Chinese beverage producer Dongpeng announced that it was terminating all cooperation with Mbappé, saying it had “zero tolerance” for conduct that offended national sentiment.
Mengniu, one of China’s biggest dairy companies, issued a similar statement and ended its partnership with the 27 year old Real Madrid forward.
Cheese producer Milkground also cut ties with the player, meaning at least three Chinese companies have now ended partnerships with him.
The financial values of those agreements have not been publicly disclosed.
Dongpeng had named Mbappé as a brand ambassador earlier this year, with advertisements featuring the French international appearing prominently in China during the World Cup. Mengniu had also used his global profile in its marketing campaigns.
Video Triggers Backlash
The controversy began after footage from an interview surfaced online.
In the clip, Mbappé was asked about internet memes involving him and said one of the funniest featured his face placed on the body of “some guy” he believed was “a Chinese dictator.”
The image shown alongside the remark appeared to depict Mao.
AFP reported that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the original video when the controversy first erupted. Mbappé’s subsequent apology, however, directly acknowledged that he had made an inappropriate comment.
Mao remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure in China, and the remarks quickly became one of the most discussed subjects on Chinese social media.
News of Dongpeng’s decision to end its cooperation with Mbappé climbed to the top of trending discussions on Weibo, while other football related platforms distanced themselves from the player.
Fallout Goes Beyond Sponsorship Deals
The consequences have not been limited to commercial endorsements.
The Chinese Football Association demanded a formal public apology, while China Media Group suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches. Social media platform RedNote also removed promotional material featuring Mbappé and restricted his account from accepting new followers.
La Liga expressed regret over the offence caused but stressed that the comments were personal to Mbappé.
Real Madrid has not been identified as a party to the commercial agreements terminated by the Chinese companies.
The episode demonstrates how quickly the international profile that makes leading footballers attractive to sponsors can become a commercial liability when comments cross political or cultural sensitivities in important markets.
Apology Comes After Commercial Damage
Mbappé’s apology accepted responsibility rather than arguing that his comments had simply been misunderstood.
But it came after companies had already begun withdrawing their support, leaving the immediate financial and reputational impact in place.
Until the controversy, Mbappé had enjoyed considerable popularity in China and had featured widely in advertising campaigns across the country.
Whether the apology restores some of that relationship with Chinese supporters remains unclear.
For one of football’s most recognisable players, the episode is a reminder that commercial value is tied to more than goals and trophies. Sponsors buying access to a global audience also expect athletes to navigate the political, historical and cultural sensitivities of the markets in which their brands operate.
Mbappé remains one of Real Madrid and France’s leading players, but the China fallout has already produced a measurable consequence away from football: major brands have decided that continuing the relationship carried too much reputational risk.
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