Mbappe China apology landed on Tuesday, after Chinese brands ended cooperation with the France captain over comments that referred to the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The order of events carries the weight here. Commercial exits came first. The statement on X came second.
Mbappe, 27, wrote that his comment was "ill-judged" and that he now understood it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. He added: "I apologise to everyone my words have upset." He said the reaction was not his intention and that he holds "deep respect for the Chinese people and their history."
Mbappe China apology and the brand exits
Three Chinese companies acted before the statement. Dairy groups Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, plus Eastroc Beverage, said they were ceasing all cooperation with Mbappe with immediate effect. The companies said they "firmly oppose and have zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people."
Other partners stayed silent. Lego, which sells a Mbappe building set in China, said it could not comment; the set was still listed on Lego's Chinese website on Tuesday. On Holding and Accor did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mbappe's representatives did not respond. Real Madrid, his club, declined to comment.
Open items for the partner list
The unresolved positions sit with the global brands, not the Chinese ones. Lego has a product on shelf. On Holding and Accor have said nothing. Whether those relationships hold is the next measurable data point, and none of the three has given a timeline.
The video and what could be verified
The remarks came in a video where Mbappe was asked about the funniest meme of himself. He described one in which his face had been photoshopped onto "some guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator." Reuters could not authenticate the video.
In China, satire about Mao is a social taboo. He ruled from 1949 until his death in 1976. Chinese outlets condemned the apparent remarks on Tuesday without repeating them. The state-backed Global Times wrote: "What did he say? Many Chinese would rather not repeat it."
LaLiga, Tebas and the broadcast halt
State television halted broadcasts of all matches and events involving LaLiga and Mbappe, according to state-backed outlet the Paper. Advertisements featuring Mbappe were removed. LaLiga president Javier Tebas issued an apology on X, saying the organisation deeply regretted the alleged comments that "have caused discomfort and offense in China."
Tebas added: "A relationship built over so many years cannot be damaged by a single episode." He said the league was taking measures within reach and working with partners in China. The league statement adds a second layer beneath the player statement. Real Madrid contributed nothing to either layer.
Weibo reaction and the meme trend behind it
On Weibo, four topics related to Mbappe remained among the top 10 trending searches as of 0700 GMT. Some users called for China to "blacklist" him and to reduce his commercial value to zero. Those comments drew hundreds of likes.
The meme trend predates the interview. Fans have superimposed Mbappe's face on images of military and political leaders, implying he influences decisions at the clubs he plays for. European press has nicknamed him "the dictator." In an interview with L'Equipe last month, Mbappe said parts of the trend were harmless fun, but that viral images depicting him as a dictator showed "a lack of political and human awareness."
A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people "will naturally be met with joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society." China Daily framed the episode as a reminder of the limits of celebrity influence. Global Times stated the consumer position directly: "Respect is not optional; one doesn't get to profit from China while disrespecting it. Not a chance."
The precedent list is short and familiar. Dolce & Gabbana, Swatch and the National Basketball Association have absorbed Chinese backlash in earlier years. For Mbappe, the exposure runs through contracts and broadcast inventory. The apology addresses the wording. It does not restore the inventory.
The original report was published by gmanetwork.com.
