The comments sparked widespread backlash among Chinese football fans and social media users, with several companies subsequently announcing that they were ending their commercial partnerships with the French international.
In his apology published on Tuesday, October 27, Mbappé admitted that his comment was ill-judged and acknowledged that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
He expressed regret over the incident and reaffirmed his respect for the Chinese people and their history, insisting that offending them was never his intention.
Chinese Sponsors Cut Ties
The controversy has already affected Mbappé’s commercial relationships in China. Beverage company Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground announced that they were terminating their partnerships with the footballer.
China Media Group also reportedly suspended broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches and events involving Mbappé, while advertisements featuring the player were removed.
The China Football Association had earlier demanded a formal public apology from both Mbappé and Real Madrid over the incident.
La Liga Responds to the Controversy
La Liga president Javier Tebas also expressed regret over the offence caused to Chinese supporters. The Spanish league said the comments were made in Mbappé’s personal capacity and did not represent the organisation.
The league added that it would work with its partners in China and establish communication measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Mao Zedong remains a highly sensitive figure in China, where jokes or criticism involving the former leader can provoke strong public reactions.
Although Mbappé has now issued an apology, the controversy raises questions about the future of his commercial partnerships and relationship with Chinese supporters.
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