Kylian Mbappe apologises to China after comments spark broadcast and sponsorship fallout

Kylian Mbappe has apologised to the Chinese people in French, Chinese and English after comments about a satirical image triggered a backlash in China.

The Real Madrid striker said he had “misjudged” a remark made during a recent interview and now understood that it had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

“I apologise to everyone who was upset by my words,” Mbappe said in a statement posted on his account on X. “That was never my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I sincerely regret it.”

The controversy has led China’s state television authority to suspend broadcasts of La Liga matches and remove content featuring Mbappe, according to Chinese newspaper The Paper, citing sources within the broadcaster.

The decision took effect on Tuesday evening and also included the removal of advertisements and videos showing the player.

La Liga had earlier apologised to Chinese supporters, saying Mbappe’s comments were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the league’s position.

“Spanish football defends the values of respect, coexistence and unity between people from different cultures,” the league said. “We reiterate our respect for China, its institutions and its people, and greatly value the support of the millions of fans who follow us every week.”

La Liga added that it was working with partners and institutional bodies in China to address the situation. It will also introduce, with clubs and players, an awareness and communications protocol designed to promote respect for different cultures and help prevent similar incidents.

China warned that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would be rejected by different sections of society.

Several Chinese companies also ended their commercial relationships with Mbappe, including Dongpeng Drinks, Mengniu and Milk Ground.

Dongpeng Drinks and its Bu Shui La brand announced on Weibo that they had immediately severed ties with the player, saying they would not tolerate behaviour that hurt national sentiment. Mengniu and Milk Ground also ended their agreements with the France forward, without specifying the incident behind their decisions.

Mbappe’s Bu Shui La advertisements had appeared regularly on billboards, buses and lifts in Chinese cities in recent months, particularly last summer during the 2026 World Cup. Mengniu is one of China’s largest dairy groups and has major international sports sponsorships involving the World Cup, the International Olympic Committee and Argentina forward Lionel Messi. Milk Ground had also used Mbappe in its advertising campaigns.

Xiaohongshu, internationally known as Red Note, said its partnership with Mbappe had ended on 31 December 2024 when the contract expired. It added that it was reviewing content connected to the player and removing some related posts.

Chinese sports site Dongqiu replaced Mbappe’s name with “there is no such person” in its 2026 Ballon d’Or ranking, in which the Real Madrid striker finished second.

The dispute began when Mbappe was asked to name his favourite satirical image. He replied: “The one that made me laugh most was the one where they put my face on a picture of a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends.”

Although he did not identify a specific leader, an edited image showing Mbappe’s face on a picture of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong has circulated on social media in recent months.

Mockery of former leaders and prominent figures linked to China’s ruling Communist Party is tightly restricted, with some cases potentially leading to legal action for defaming heroes and martyrs.

The incident follows earlier tensions between Spanish football organisations and China. In September 2024, Chinese state media criticised Real Madrid over a message that referred to Nepal and Tibet together after floods. Barcelona apologised in April after a Taiwan flag appeared on a page linked to its international academy, while Real Madrid apologised in February over an Instagram post attributed to defender Dean Huijsen that was considered racist and offensive to Asians.