Brief

Mbappé’s Mao meme sparks sponsor fallout and La Liga broadcast halt in China

The French forward’s April video sparked outrage, an apology and a boycott that hit both his personal endorsements and Real Madrid’s China TV contract.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:54:11 GMT

Kylian Mbappé, the French captain of Real Madrid, found himself at the centre of a controversy in China after a video surfaced showing him joking about a Chinese dictator. The clip, recorded in April and shared by the French football podcast The Bridge, led to public backlash, the termination of three Chinese sponsorships and state television scrapping La Liga broadcasts.

What happened

The video shows Mbappé preparing for an interview and saying the "funniest internet meme" he had seen was his own face digitally placed on "some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator". Although he did not name Mao Zedong, Chinese netizens identified the reference as the former leader. The clip was widely circulated on Monday before being removed from Chinese platforms. In response, state media described his remarks as "inappropriate concerning China" without mentioning Mao by name.

What the reports add

Al Jazeera notes that the meme originated from a broader trend of "dictator Mbappé" jokes that previously mocked his influence at Paris Saint‑Germain, not political figures. The outlet also points out that the backlash highlighted the sensitivity of satire involving Mao in China, where such references remain a social taboo. The article mentions that the video’s removal from Chinese social media coincided with a surge of criticism on Weibo, where users called the comment "hurtful toward China and the Chinese people".

What was said

In an interview with French daily L’Équipe, Mbappé said, "There’s a part of it that’s funny. You can tell that, for some people, it’s all in good fun. But there is another part that’s a bit less funny because of the damage such people have caused throughout history." Al Jazeera attributes the quote to Mbappé via L’Équipe. A Weibo user, quoted by the outlet, wrote that his remarks "cannot be translated" because they were "hurtful toward China and the Chinese people".

How it came about

The incident follows a series of recent developments involving Mbappé and China. On 27 October, Felo News reported that the striker had apologised after three Chinese firms – Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground – ended sponsorship deals, describing his comment as ill‑judged. Earlier that month, the same outlet covered the loss of two additional sponsors, Dongpeng and Mengniu, after the meme went viral. The current controversy adds a new dimension by affecting Real Madrid’s broadcast arrangements, with state television pulling La Liga coverage, a move that threatens the league’s $160 million‑plus China deal.

Key facts

A video of Mbappé joking about a "Chinese dictator" was recorded in April and shared by the podcast The Bridge. (aljazeera.com)
The clip sparked outrage on Chinese social media, leading to three Chinese sponsors ending deals with the player. (aljazeera.com)
State television in China announced it would stop broadcasting La Liga matches. (aljazeera.com)
Mbappé later said the joke was partly funny but also recognised the historical damage caused by such figures. (aljazeera.com)