Real Madrid apologized to the people of China on Wednesday due to the offensive remarks made by their French player Kylian Mbappé. These remarks, which indirectly referenced Mao Zedong, the former leader of China, provoked strong reactions in the country, leading Chinese state media to halt the broadcast of La Liga matches.
China's reaction to Mbappé's remarks
Kylian Mbappé mentioned in an interview with a French television program an internet meme that indirectly compared his face to Mao Zedong. These remarks were heavily criticized in China, and many social media users in the country expressed their discontent. Mbappé stated, "My remarks were incorrect, and I now understand that they have hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world. I apologize to all those who were harmed by my words."
Consequences and commercial reactions
Following this incident, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it takes Mbappé's apology seriously. Additionally, Chinese state media, including CMG, suspended the broadcast of La Liga matches. This action followed severe criticism from Chinese fans. Some well-known brands like Dengfeng and dairy companies such as Mengniu and Mingground also halted their collaborations with Mbappé.
While Real Madrid is trying to manage this crisis, the sales of the team's jerseys in stores in China have been affected. In the flagship Adidas store in the Sanlitun area of Beijing, Real Madrid jerseys were available, but none were sold with Mbappé's name.
China has previously experienced tensions with foreign sports leagues due to unacceptable remarks and behaviors. In October 2019, the country suspended sponsorship contracts with the NBA due to a supportive tweet for Hong Kong protesters and halted the broadcast of the league's games for a year.
