French soccer captain Kylian Mbappe has apologized for comments that led to him being dropped by several Chinese brands. The controversy started when Mbappe made a comment about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong during an interview. The comment was perceived as disrespectful in China, where jokes about Mao are considered taboo.
Mbappe, 27, acknowledged that his comment was ill-judged and apologized to everyone it hurt. He expressed his respect for the Chinese people and their history, and he is sincerely sorry for any offense caused.
Several Chinese brands, including Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, and Eastroc Beverage, have ceased all cooperation with Mbappe. China's state television has also stopped broadcasting matches and events involving LaLiga and Mbappe, and all advertisements featuring Mbappe have been removed.
The controversy highlights the importance of being mindful of cultural differences and the limits of celebrity influence in a global market. Mbappe's representatives have not commented on the issue, and his club Real Madrid has also declined to comment.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas apologized on social media, stating that the organization regrets the comments that caused discomfort and offense in China. He expressed a desire to work with partners and interlocutors in China to resolve the situation.
The incident has sparked a discussion on social media in China, with some netizens calling for the country to "blacklist" Mbappe and reduce his commercial value to zero. The controversy has also led to the creation of memes superimposing Mbappe's face on images of military and political leaders, suggesting that he has the power to influence decisions at the teams he plays for.
