Mbappe apologizes over Mao comparison

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe apologized after comments he made about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The French player had referred, in a talk show, to a humorous video showing a face resembling Mao used in a clip about him, which he compared to a Chinese dictator.

His remarks drew strong backlash in China. Two Chinese brands that have deals with Mbappe, Mengniu and Dongpeng, said they have a zero tolerance policy toward any conduct that offends the national feelings of China. CCTV, the state broadcaster, reportedly will not carry news about the player in its programs, and the broadcasting of La Liga matches was said to be halted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would draw condemnation from all sectors of Chinese society. Mao founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and led the Communist Party until his death in 1976, making him one of the country's most recognized figures. The Chinese Communist Party today still treats jokes about Mao as an insult to the party and the nation.

In his statement, Mbappe said he had commented on an image, but recognized that the comment was inappropriate and had hurt many people in China and around the world. He added that he deeply respects the Chinese people and their history, and said he sincerely regrets what he said.

La Liga, in its own statement, acknowledged that Mbappe's words had offended Chinese fans and apologized. The statement stressed that the remarks were made on a personal responsibility and do not reflect the views of the league or its clubs. It also said the league's agreement with China's state broadcaster remains in force and that efforts are underway with the relevant partners to resolve the situation.