Headline: Kylian Mbappé’s Comments Spark Diplomatic Tensions and Sponsorship Losses in China
The diplomatic crisis ignited by Kylian Mbappé’s remarks in China is poised to impact more than just the footballer’s personal reputation, as at least three of his sponsorships with Asian brands have already been terminated. Concerns also arise for Real Madrid, his current club, along with LaLiga, regarding potential repercussions from this controversy.
The backlash from the Chinese public originated from a light-hearted interview featuring Mbappé and his teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, which was shared on YouTube. When asked about his favorite meme depicting himself, Mbappé expressed amusement at an edited image that portrayed his face on the body of “a Chinese dictator.” This joke was specifically about Mao Zedong, the historical founder of the People’s Republic of China, who governed from 1949 to 1976.
While the interview initially aired in March, it gained traction this week as clips spread widely across Asian social media. Dongqiudi, a notable sports news outlet in China, criticized Mbappé’s comments as offensive and highly inappropriate concerning Mao Zedong.
Adding to the gravity of the situation is a law enacted by the Chinese government in 2018 that penalizes defamation of the nation’s heroes and martyrs. The incident has drawn a significant wave of criticism on Weibo, ultimately prompting an official response from the Chinese capital. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that actions or statements that offend the Chinese populace will be met with strong societal condemnation.
As a direct outcome of this incident, three major local companies—energy drink brand Dongpeng and dairy producers Mengniu and Milkground—have severed ties with the French forward. In an effort to mitigate the fallout, Mbappé issued a public apology during an interview on Tuesday.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has also entered the conversation, expressing concern for the league’s prospects in the Asian market. He apologized for the incident, emphasizing that it should not harm the league’s commercial partnerships or its relationship with the millions of Asian fans supporting Spanish football.
Despite these efforts, severe repercussions have unfolded. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has halted broadcasts of LaLiga matches featuring Real Madrid, and content related to Mbappé, including his goals and comments, is now banned on various digital platforms within China. Furthermore, his RedNote account, which had over a million followers, was removed for alleged community guideline violations.
Although Real Madrid has refrained from commenting on the situation thus far, reports indicate the club will not escape unscathed. Spanish media reports note that Mbappé’s contract includes a clause that entitles the club to a percentage of his individual advertising revenue, meaning the loss of his deals with Chinese brands could financially impact Real Madrid.
Additionally, the club harbors internal worries about its standing among an estimated 100 million fans in China. The board is concerned that this crisis may lead to a significant decline in merchandise sales and problems with its Chinese sponsors, including Hisense (televisions), Roborock (robot vacuum cleaners), and Linglong Tire (tires).
