The France national football team captain expressed regret after remarks about Mao Zedong that led to commercial and media fallout in China.
Kylian Mbappé has chosen to respond publicly to the wave of reaction sparked by a video in which he described former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a "dictator". In a statement, the France forward and Real Madrid striker says he is sincerely sorry and apologises to those who may have felt hurt by his remarks.
The repercussions of these comments were swift in China. Several Chinese companies decided to terminate their advertising contracts with the player, a move that illustrates the economic weight of the Chinese market for international athletes. At the same time, Chinese state television announced the suspension of broadcasts of Real Madrid matches, the Spanish club of which Mbappé is one of the star players.
This type of episode highlights the particular sensitivity surrounding the image of historical figures in the country. Mao Zedong remains a central figure in contemporary Chinese history, and any public challenge to his legacy is liable to provoke strong reactions, including on the commercial front. Western athletes and celebrities who speak out on political or historical subjects touching on China regularly find themselves confronted with this dilemma.
In apologising, Kylian Mbappé is seeking to bring the controversy to a close and preserve his relationships with his partners and his public. The statement stresses the sincerity of his regret, without going back into the exact content of the video in question. It remains to be seen whether this apology will be enough to restore the situation with the companies that ended their contracts and with Chinese broadcasters.
The case of the Les Bleus captain more broadly serves as a reminder that top-level athletes' communication now extends well beyond the pitch. Their public statements can have immediate consequences for their income, for the broadcasting of their clubs and for the image of their national team. The coming weeks will show the true extent of the impact of this affair.
The repercussions of these comments were swift in China. Several Chinese companies decided to terminate their advertising contracts with the player, a move that illustrates the economic weight of the Chinese market for international athletes. At the same time, Chinese state television announced the suspension of broadcasts of Real Madrid matches, the Spanish club of which Mbappé is one of the star players.
This type of episode highlights the particular sensitivity surrounding the image of historical figures in the country. Mao Zedong remains a central figure in contemporary Chinese history, and any public challenge to his legacy is liable to provoke strong reactions, including on the commercial front. Western athletes and celebrities who speak out on political or historical subjects touching on China regularly find themselves confronted with this dilemma.
In apologising, Kylian Mbappé is seeking to bring the controversy to a close and preserve his relationships with his partners and his public. The statement stresses the sincerity of his regret, without going back into the exact content of the video in question. It remains to be seen whether this apology will be enough to restore the situation with the companies that ended their contracts and with Chinese broadcasters.
The case of the Les Bleus captain more broadly serves as a reminder that top-level athletes' communication now extends well beyond the pitch. Their public statements can have immediate consequences for their income, for the broadcasting of their clubs and for the image of their national team. The coming weeks will show the true extent of the impact of this affair.
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Source: Ouest-France