Mbappé's Comments Spark China Soccer and Business Fallout

French soccer player Kylian Mbappé, who plays for Real Madrid, faced backlash in China after referencing former leader Mao Zedong. The controversy began when Mbappé responded to internet memes that compared him to historical figures like Mao Zedong.

In response to the memes, Mbappé said he found the jokes amusing, particularly those that superimposed his face onto Mao Zedong's. This led to swift reactions, including the removal of a clip from a French podcast and the suspension of La Liga broadcasts in China.

Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu froze Mbappé's account, and several companies, including Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground, ended their commercial partnerships with him. Mbappé later issued a public apology, acknowledging his comments were ill-judged.

La Liga and Real Madrid also issued apologies, expressing regret for any discomfort caused by Mbappé's remarks. The Spanish league emphasized its respect for China and its people, while the club apologized for the player's words.

Despite the backlash, some Chinese social media users were unaware of Mbappé's specific comments due to censorship. The government cracks down on criticism of communist party leaders such as Mao Zedong.

Mbappé's comments could result in a loss of up to $30 million in annual sponsorship revenue. La Liga's revenue from international markets, including China and the U.S., is significant, with 40% (over $830 million) of the revenue that La Liga earns from broadcasting rights coming from these regions.