Soccer star Kylian Mbappé apologizes for apparent reference to Mao as a 'dictator'
Summary
Kylian Mbappé has apologized after comments that appeared to refer to Mao Zedong as a dictator sparked backlash in China and led at least three Chinese brands to end partnerships with him. Chinese authorities and media outlets demanded an apology, while La Liga moved to limit the fallout and protect its business ties in China.
Key Points
- Kylian Mbappé apologized after remarks that were widely seen as calling Mao Zedong a dictator.
- At least three Chinese companies, including Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground, ended their agreements with Mbappé.
- The China Football Association and Chinese state media demanded apologies and suspended or removed Mbappé-related content.
- La Liga said it regretted the offense and would create a communication protocol to prevent similar incidents.
