Real Madrid issued a formal apology to the Chinese people on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, over statements made by forward Kylian Mbappe regarding a meme that portrayed him as Mao Zedong. In an official statement, the club stated that it holds deep respect for China's history and culture, reiterated its commitment to coexistence among different cultures, and associated itself with the apology previously made by the player.
The diplomatic and commercial crisis began after Mbappe appeared on the show The Bridge, where the athlete commented that he found a montage amusing that superimposed his face onto that of the leader of the Chinese communist revolution. Following the negative backlash, the player posted an apology in Chinese, French, and English on the social network X, acknowledging that his comments were thoughtless and caused hurt.
The consequences for the player and the Spanish league were immediate. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV suspended broadcasts of LaLiga matches and games involving the forward, in addition to pulling advertising inserts. On the commercial front, Chinese companies such as Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground terminated their sponsorship contracts with Mbappe. The People's Daily, the official organ of the Chinese Communist Party, also criticized the athlete's stance, classifying him as a potential liability for brands operating in the country.
