Kylian Mbappé has issued an official apology to the Chinese people following the controversy sparked by his comments regarding a meme, and the subsequent commercial boycotts and media restrictions that targeted his presence in the country.
The Real Madrid forward published his statement on Tuesday across his social media channels, coming hours after the escalating crisis shifted from public backlash to concrete decisions by Chinese brands and media outlets.
“My comment was misguided,” Mbappé stated, explaining that he realized his words had hurt people in China as well as members of Chinese communities around the world, after he had discussed an image featuring his face during an interview.
He added: “I apologize to everyone who was offended by my words; this was never my intention,” using the remainder of his statement to express his deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, while voicing regret over the incident.
The controversy originated when the French international was asked about his favorite meme, pointing to an edit placing his face onto the body of a “Chinese dictator,” noting that he frequently shares it with friends—without explicitly naming Mao Zedong.
The reference sparked outrage across Chinese social media platforms, prompting beverage and dairy companies Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground to terminate their partnerships with the player, reiterating their stance against actions that hurt national sentiments.
The fallout extended to state broadcaster CCTV, which reportedly suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and took down content associated with Mbappé, while sports platform Dongqiudi replaced his name in the Ballon d’Or standings with a phrase meaning “non-existent person.”
The player’s apology was preceded by an intervention from La Liga president Javier Tebas, who also apologized to China, announcing direct outreach to local partners alongside the implementation of educational protocols for players and clubs regarding respect for diverse cultures.
