China State TV Suspends La Liga Broadcasts Over Kylian Mbappe’s ‘Dictator’ Remark About Founding Father Mao
China State TV Suspends La Liga Broadcasts Over Kylian Mbappe’s ‘Dictator’ Remark About Founding Father Mao
The decision came despite apologies from Mbappe and La Liga over the comments, which sparked backlash in China and prompted major Chinese brands to drop the French footballer.
Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of Spanish football league La Liga following a controversial remark by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe about China’s founding leader, Mao Zedong.
The decision came despite apologies from Mbappe and La Liga over the comments, which sparked backlash in China and prompted major Chinese brands to drop the French footballer.
The controversy followed a video circulating online in which Mbappe described the funniest internet meme he had seen involving him as one showing his face superimposed on that of “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.
The remark appeared to refer to a meme featuring Mbappe’s face edited onto an image of Mao. The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified.
Mbappe apologised on Tuesday, describing his comment as “ill-judged” and acknowledging that it had offended people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset,” he said in a statement issued in French, Chinese and English.
La Liga also expressed regret over the incident, saying the comments were made in Mbappe’s personal capacity and did not represent the Spanish league.
The China Media Group (CMG), which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, said it had decided to suspend La Liga broadcasts on Monday, before the apologies were issued.
The media organisation also demanded an apology from Real Madrid, describing such an apology as “an absolute prerequisite” for further discussions.
In China, jokes about Mao, who died in 1976, remain highly sensitive. Historians have attributed mass starvation and millions of deaths to policies implemented during his rule.
Major Chinese companies, including beverage producer Dongpeng, also responded to the controversy by dropping Mbappe, who captains the French national team.
