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China's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it is treating soccer star Kylian Mbappé's apology with seriousness following remarks that were viewed as disrespectful toward Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China. The controversy continues to unfold.
Mbappé encountered a strong backlash on Tuesday over comments he made during an online interview, resulting in the loss of brand deals with at least three Chinese companies. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese producer Milkground each released similarly worded statements terminating their agreements with the star forward, expressing opposition to any words or actions that harm national sentiment.
"We take seriously the apology he has made," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a daily press briefing on Wednesday. It remains uncertain whether Mbappé's apology will help him recover the brand deals or other business opportunities he lost on Tuesday. His team's matches were still unavailable to viewers in China on Wednesday.
In an online column on Wednesday, the Communist Party's official mouthpiece, the People's Daily, stated: "Of course, once a public figure's speech and actions cross the limit, or step on a red line, he becomes a brand's negative asset." The column added, "It is owing to principles and the necessity of business logic that Chinese platforms and companies take firm actions to cut off such a relationship."
This incident is the latest in a series of cases where China has used its economic influence to pressure foreign companies and individuals into apologizing for perceived slights. In 2019, Chinese state television stopped broadcasting NBA games after then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.
China Media Group also announced that it has suspended broadcasts of matches in the Spanish league and other games featuring the French player, and demanded an apology from La Liga, Mbappé, and his club, Real Madrid. Mbappé issued an apology on Tuesday, saying, "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world." He added, "I apologize to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."
On Tuesday, Spanish league president Javier Tebas quickly issued a public apology and emphasized La Liga's commitment to maintaining its partnerships with China. Real Madrid apologized later on Wednesday, joining Mbappé in expressing regret over the player's remarks and reiterating respect for the Chinese people. CMG said it received the apology from Real Madrid without further comment. Earlier, it had demanded a formal apology, stating that the club's position that a player was entitled to his personal opinion was unacceptable.
In a video clip, Mbappé is asked about his favorite meme of himself, and the soccer star replies that it was a video someone made of a guy "I think he was a Chinese dictator" before the video shows an altered image depicting Mbappé's face on the blue-suited body of Mao Zedong. Soccer fans online jokingly call the star "a dictator," and memes showing him as Mao or other autocratic leaders are widely circulated.
Mao Zedong was a revolutionary who led the Communist Party during its crucial early days, winning a civil war against the ruling Nationalist Party in China, and then founding the modern-day People's Republic of China. Mao is revered by many, even today. However, he left behind a complex legacy of authoritarian rule, having led campaigns like the 1959-63 Great Leap Forward and the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, which killed an estimated 31 million people through starvation and persecution.
China's online censorship apparatus meant that even though news about Mbappé's lost brand deals was trending on Tuesday, not everyone knew what he said. Comments about top leaders are considered sensitive, and his comment was not translated by the brands or state media who criticized his remarks. "Maybe he said something he shouldn't have again and hurt people's feelings here in China," said He Xiaodou on Wednesday. The Beijing finance worker said he heard about the controversy but did not know exactly what it was about. "I just vaguely got the impression that it might have been something political."
Others who did know took the comments in stride. "I think maybe some people or some companies are overreacting on this issue," said Li Zhi, a Beijing lawyer. "It's not a big deal. It's not the first time this happened."
Key Analysis
The swift response from Chinese authorities and companies underscores the delicate balance global sports figures must maintain when addressing sensitive topics. Mbappé's apology and the subsequent apologies from La Liga and Real Madrid highlight the economic and reputational stakes involved. The incident also illustrates how China's censorship apparatus can shape public awareness, leaving many citizens unaware of the specifics behind the controversy.
Originally reported by wtop.