Key facts
- Kylian Mbappé apologized for a meme that superimposed his face onto an image resembling Mao Zedong.
- Chinese brands cut ties with Mbappé following the controversy.
- China Media Group suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches.
- Mbappé's Weibo account was made un-followable by new users.
- Mao Zedong remains a revered figure in China despite the devastation of his rule.
Football star Kylian Mbappé became embroiled in a controversy on Chinese social media after a clip surfaced of him joking about a meme that superimposed his face onto an image resembling Mao Zedong. The incident led to Chinese brands cutting ties with Mbappé and China Media Group suspending broadcasts of La Liga matches. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated that actions hurting Chinese people's feelings would be opposed. Mbappé, along with his club Real Madrid and La Liga, issued apologies. Despite the apologies, anger lingered on Chinese social media, with some users calling for a ban on the footballer. The controversy also highlighted the impact of China's censorship system, where many citizens were unaware of the full historical context of Mao's rule.