Kylian Mbappé has apologised for “ill-judged” comments about late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which led several Chinese brands to drop him.Mbappé reportedly told the French talk show The Bridge about the meme “that makes me laugh the most, it’s the one where there’s a video of a guy, I think it’s a Chinese dictator…” He then laughs as the clip cuts to a meme showing his face superimposed on an image resembling Mao.The meme is part of a running joke about the Real Madrid forward being called a “dictator” because of his huge influence in football.“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappé said in a statement.“I apologise to everyone my words have upset.”Spain’s La Liga also apologised, saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappé’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans”.The joke did not go down well in China, where Mao is revered by the Communist Party, despite his chaotic and often violent rule that left millions dead.A few people came out in his support on Chinese social media, but that’s rare given China’s tightly controlled internet, where people are expected to toe the party and government line on sensitive topics.Few topics are as sensitive as Mao, which may explain why brands were so quick to terminate partnerships with a global sports star like Mbappé.The show’s YouTube channel doesn’t have the original video, and it’s unclear when the interview, hosted by Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni, first aired. In clips circulating online, Mbappé does not name Mao. He says he “uses [the meme] with friends all the time”.The furore appeared to kick off Monday night after Chinese football forum Dongqiudi drew attention to the comments in a statement, calling them “inappropriate” and saying they “hurt the feelings of Chinese people”.Screengrabs of the clip and meme have since spread quickly on Chinese social media, with people echoing this sentiment and even calling for a boycott of both the French striker and his club, Real Madrid.But some have blurred the meme itself as well as the part of the comment they found offensive, when Mbappe refers to “a Chinese dictator”.Dongqiudi said in its statement that it was “unable to translate” his comments because they were “offensive to China and the Chinese people”.Many people are therefore also wondering what exactly Mbappe said and have responded to the angry posts and comments with questions, wanting to know more.Weibo users are recirculating the clip by blurring the meme and redacting references to MaoWhat is the reaction in China?Chinese fans have been criticising Mbappé – who is popular in China and has huge brand endorsements – of “profiting from the Chinese market yet making remarks that offend the Chinese public”.“International public figures, in particular, should show greater respect and sensitivity, as national sentiment must never be taken lightly,” reads another comment on Weibo.As online anger grew louder, Chinese brands began cutting ties, though they did not explicitly refer to the video.The country’s largest dairy producer, Mengniu, said it “firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”.Drinks giant Dongpeng issued a similar statement: “Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments.”According to state-owned newspaper The Global Times, state broadcaster CCTV’s news apps will not feature content related to the French striker. Chinese media reported on Tuesday that CCTV will also stop showing La Liga matches. Real Madrid is one of 20 clubs in the Spanish football league and is the most decorated team, with 36 league titles.China’s foreign ministry has also weighed in, with spokesperson Lin Jian saying: “We have noted the relevant reports. Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”Mbappé has a significant commercial presence in ChinaChina is a major market for international sports stars and homegrown brands have signed multimillion-dollar endorsement contracts with Mbappé, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, and NBA player Stephen Curry.By 14:00 local time on Tuesday, five of the top 10 trending topics on Weibo centred on Mbappé, with the hashtag “multiple brands terminate partnerships with Mbappé” topping the list.“Don’t ever come to China,” read one of Weibo’s top comments.Why is Mao a sensitive topic?Mao founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and ruled through the tumultuous 1960s and 1970s.His attempt at rapid industrialisation, the Great Leap Forward, led to a famine that killed tens of millions. Then came the Cultural Revolution: a violent purge of anyone seen as a threat to Communism, which included Chinese intellectuals, landowners, artists and often rivals within the Party.His death in 1976 ushered in a new era for China, as it began to open its doors to the global economy. Even as the country moved away from Mao’s rule, the party continued to hail him as a national icon whose legacy was beyond reproach.So jokes or memes about Mao are seen not just as an insult to the party but also to its closely guarded narrative about the country’s past.Mbappé has said some of the memes “reveal a lack of political and human awareness”It’s unclear when the Mbappé meme involving Mao began, but his nickname, “the dictator”, has made the striker the subject of many memes and jokes online.Mbappé is widely regarded as one of the world’s best footballers and has wielded significant influence at the clubs he has played for. His extraordinary speed, goalscoring ability, and worldwide popularity have made him a global icon, attracting millions of fans, major sponsorship deals, and media attention, with his influence extending into fashion, culture, and business.In 2024, he sued a French influencer and kebab shop owner for using his name in the description of one of the shop’s sandwiches, leading to more jokes about the nickname.France teammate Ousmane Dembele jumped on the trend during the 2026 World Cup, calling Mbappé Mobut – a reference to Mobutu Sese Seko, the dictator who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, for three decades.In a September interview with France Football, Mbappé acknowledged the light-heartedness behind many of these memes, but said they “sometimes reveal a lack of political and human awareness among people”.“There’s a side that’s a bit less funny, because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history,” he said.“Being compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions upon millions of people miserable… I don’t think I’ve done that in my life.”