Mbappé Faces Backlash in China After Mao Zedong Comments
Soccer star Kylian Mbappé faced significant backlash and lost brand deals in China after making comments perceived as disrespectful to Mao Zedong. Mbappé, along with his club Real Madrid and Spain's La Liga, issued apologies, which China's Foreign Ministry stated…
Detroit, MI, October 28, 2026 —
Kylian Mbappé faced significant backlash in China after comments he made were perceived as disrespectful to Mao Zedong. The reaction was followed by lost brand deals and the suspension of broadcasts of matches featuring the soccer star by Chinese state media.
Mbappé, his club Real Madrid and Spain’s La Liga issued apologies. China’s Foreign Ministry said it had taken the apologies seriously. The summary of events does not specify when the comments were made or when the apologies were issued.
The broadcast suspensions were described as pending apologies. The available information does not say when the suspensions began, which matches were affected, or whether broadcasts later resumed. It also does not identify the brands involved or provide details about the value or number of deals lost.
The comments themselves were characterized as being perceived as disrespectful to Mao Zedong, but their wording and context were not provided. No further details were available about the public response, the circumstances surrounding the apologies, or any additional action by the organizations involved.
The reported sequence links the perceived offense to backlash, lost brand deals and broadcast suspensions. Beyond the apologies and the Foreign Ministry’s stated response, the information provided does not establish what further consequences, if any, followed.
Story summarized from the original created by Huizhong Wu, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
