China’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged an apology issued by French football star Kylian Mbappé over comments referring to a “Chinese dictator,” as the controversy continues to affect his commercial partnerships and the broadcasting of Real Madrid matches in China.
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The controversy erupted after Mbappé referred to a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China, during an online interview.
The remarks sparked criticism in China, prompting at least three major Chinese companies to terminate their sponsorship agreements with the Real Madrid forward, while Chinese broadcasters suspended matches featuring him.
Speaking during a regular press briefing on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed that the government had acknowledged Mbappé’s apology.
“We take seriously the apology he has made,” Guo said.
However, the ministry did not indicate whether the apology would resolve the controversy or lead to the restoration of the footballer’s commercial relationships with Chinese companies.
The backlash began on Tuesday when beverage manufacturer Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground announced that they were ending their agreements with Mbappé.
The companies issued similarly worded statements expressing opposition to “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment.”
The development represents a commercial setback for the French international, whose global popularity has made him a prominent ambassador for international brands.
Despite his subsequent apology, matches involving Mbappé remained unavailable to viewers in China on Wednesday.
China Media Group (CMG) announced the suspension of broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches and other games featuring the French forward.
The broadcaster also demanded formal apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga over the remarks.
The controversy began after a video clip circulated online showing Mbappé responding to a question about his favourite internet meme featuring himself.
In the interview, the footballer referred to a video featuring a man whom he believed to be a Chinese dictator.
He said it was “a video someone made of a guy … I think he was a Chinese dictator.”
The clip subsequently displayed an altered image of Mbappé’s face superimposed on the body of Mao Zedong, who was depicted wearing a blue suit.
The image formed part of an online joke in which football supporters portray Mbappé as a dictator because of perceptions that his influence sometimes overshadows his teammates and the clubs he represents.
Similar internet memes have depicted the footballer as other authoritarian leaders.
However, the reference to Mao generated criticism in China, where the former Communist leader remains a revered historical figure among many citizens.
Mao played a central role in the rise of the Chinese Communist Party, led its victory over the Nationalist government in the Chinese Civil War and proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
His legacy remains controversial because of political campaigns conducted during his leadership, including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which resulted in widespread deaths through famine, persecution and political violence.
Following the backlash, Mbappé issued a public apology on Tuesday, acknowledging that his comments had caused offence.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said.
“I apologize to everyone my words have upset,” Mbappé added.
“This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”
The apology was followed by separate statements from La Liga and Real Madrid.
La Liga President Javier Tebas publicly apologised on Tuesday and emphasised the Spanish league’s commitment to maintaining its partnerships and commercial relationships with China.
Real Madrid subsequently issued its own apology on Wednesday, expressing regret over the player’s remarks and reaffirming the club’s respect for the Chinese people.
China Media Group confirmed that it had received Real Madrid’s apology but did not immediately announce whether the broadcasting suspension would be lifted.
The broadcaster had earlier criticised the club’s position that Mbappé was entitled to express his personal opinion, describing that response as unacceptable.
The controversy also attracted commentary from China’s state media.
In an online column published on Wednesday, the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, defended the decision by Chinese companies and broadcasting platforms to sever ties with the footballer.
“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 newspaper stated.
“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.”
The newspaper’s position highlighted the commercial risks facing international celebrities and businesses whose public statements are considered offensive or politically sensitive in China.
The incident is the latest example of a controversy involving foreign sports personalities and Chinese political sensitivities.
In 2019, Chinese state television suspended broadcasts of National Basketball Association (NBA) games after Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, published a social media message supporting anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.
The decision triggered a major dispute involving the NBA, Chinese broadcasters and commercial partners.
Meanwhile, China’s strict online censorship has complicated public understanding of the latest controversy.
Although reports of Mbappé losing sponsorship agreements circulated widely on Chinese social media, some residents said they were unaware of the specific remarks that triggered the backlash.
Chinese brands and state media that criticised the footballer did not reproduce or translate the controversial reference to Mao, whose political legacy remains a sensitive subject in China.
A Beijing finance worker, He Xiaodou, said he had heard about the controversy but did not fully understand what Mbappé had said.
“Maybe he said something he shouldn’t have again and hurt people’s feelings here in China,” he said.
“I just vaguely got the impression that it might have been something political.”
However, other Chinese residents questioned whether the response was proportionate to the footballer’s remarks.
Beijing lawyer Li Zhi suggested that some of the companies involved had reacted too strongly.
“I think maybe some people or some companies are overreacting on this issue,” he said.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s not the first time this happened.”
The differing reactions reflect the debate surrounding the controversy, with some defending the commercial sanctions as a response to perceived disrespect toward Chinese history, while others consider the remarks an ill-judged reference to an internet meme.
For Mbappé, the immediate consequences include the loss of at least three Chinese sponsorship agreements and the continued suspension of broadcasts of matches featuring him.
Although China’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged his apology and Real Madrid and La Liga have also expressed regret, it remains unclear whether the affected companies will restore their commercial partnerships or when Chinese broadcasters will resume showing his matches.
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