CCTV warns Mbappé as Chinese sponsors cut ties over Mao meme

Kylian Mbappé is facing growing fallout in China over remarks apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator, with sponsors dropping the French striker and Spanish football broadcasts disrupted.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV has warned that Mbappé’s apology will ultimately be judged by his actions.

“We will listen to his words, but watch his actions even more closely,” an unnamed China Media Group representative said on Oct. 27, urging Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga to learn from the incident and mend their ways.

A day earlier, the broadcaster had suspended La Liga coverage and matches involving the French forward, while also pulling advertisements in which he appeared.

His social media accounts on Xiaohongshu and Weibo were also subsequently muted, according to Renmin Ruiping, People’s Daily’s online commentary platform.

Neither a resumption of broadcasts nor the lifting of the account restrictions could be independently confirmed as of Oct. 28.

The backlash followed the circulation of a clip from French program “The Bridge,” in which Mbappé discussed a meme depicting his face superimposed onto Mao, the late Chinese communist party chairman and founding leader of the People’s Republic of China.

In the clip, Mbappé said the funniest meme he had seen of himself showed his face superimposed onto that of “some guy—I think he’s a Chinese dictator,” according to a report by Reuters.

Reuters said it could not independently authenticate the video.

The football star has since apologized in Chinese, French and English in a statement on X on Oct. 27, acknowledging that his comments were ill-judged and have hurt many Chinese communities around the world.

La Liga also issued an official statement expressing deep regret over the hurt caused to Chinese fans by Mbappé’s remarks, adding that his personal views do not represent the Spanish league’s position.

The commercial fallout has also been swift.

Dongpeng Beverage, Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground announced the termination of their partnerships with Mbappé, according to company statements compiled by China.org.cn, a state-run web portal and news service.

Dongpeng’s sports drink brand Bushuila had unveiled him as its ambassador only in April this year.

Meanwhile, On and Dior have also reportedly removed Chinese promotional content featuring Mbappé, although neither had announced a global termination, according to Chinese news outlet…