Mbappé’s Mao joke sparks backlash and commercial losses in China

Kylian Mbappé has faced a backlash in China after a video showed him joking about a “Chinese dictator”, which many interpreted as a reference to former leader Mao Zedong.

The clip, filmed in April and shared by French football podcast The Bridge, was removed after circulating on social media. Although Mbappé did not name Mao, he described the meme as “the funniest internet meme” involving his face on a Chinese leader’s image.

Chinese authorities responded by scrubbing references to Mao from state television, halting La Liga broadcasts, and freezing Mbappé’s accounts on platforms such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu, where he has over a million followers. State media described his remarks as “inappropriate” and “hurtful toward China and the Chinese people”.

Mbappé issued an apology, acknowledging the humour but noting the sensitivity surrounding figures associated with historical tragedies. Despite the apology, the incident has cost him several commercial deals and highlighted the risks for athletes and brands operating in the lucrative Chinese market, where satire of Mao remains a social taboo.

Source: Al Jazeera. Photo: Yanni Shams / Pexels.