'I apologize to everyone': Mbappé reacts to 'Chinese dictator' controversy

NewsSports NewsFootball'I apologize to everyone my words have upset': Kylian Mbappé reacts to 'Chinese dictator' controversy 'I apologize to everyone my words have upset': Kylian Mbappé reacts to 'Chinese dictator' controversy Edited by Jyotirmoy Halder / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Oct 27, 2026, 20:15 IST Kylian Mbappé has apologised after comments about a meme featuring Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong sparked anger in China.

The controversy has also cost the French football star partnerships with three Chinese companies, while criticism of his remarks spread across Chinese social media.“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 Tuesday.

Watch Mumbai Indians’ new coach Luke Williams on Harmanpreet Kaur, WPL auction and plans for 2027 “I apologize to everyone my words have upset," he said. "This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."Brands End Partnerships With Mbappé Chinese beverage company Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground announced on Tuesday that they were ending their agreements with the footballer.

All three companies issued similar statements opposing “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment”.The decisions followed the circulation of a video on X that appeared to show Mbappé discussing his favourite internet meme during an interview ahead of his appearance on the French online talk show The Bridge.Asked about the meme, Mbappé described it as “a video someone made of a guy ...

I think he was a Chinese dictator”. The clip then showed an edited image placing his face on the body of Mao Zedong.Football fans often jokingly portray Mbappé as a dictator in online memes because of his larger-than-life presence in the sport.

However, Mao remains a sensitive historical figure in China.Join conversation He led the Communist Party to victory in the Chinese civil war and founded the People's Republic of China in 1949. While many still revere him, his rule also included disastrous policies, including the Great Leap Forward, which contributed to a famine that killed an estimated 30 million people.Social media backlash grows China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also commented on the controversy, saying that “words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.”Social media platform RedNote said its content partnership with Mbappé had ended on December 31, 2024, and announced it would “remove related promotional materials.” His account was also blocked from gaining new followers.Meanwhile, hashtags calling for boycotts and reporting the brands' decisions topped Weibo's trending charts, with some users criticising Mbappé and urging him not to visit China.

Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Jyotirmoy Halder is a journalist and sports writer at TOI (digital), with a post-graduation in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.

A passionate follower of sports since childhood, he has covered everything from mainstream to niche disciplines. His career began in 2018 with SportsKeeda, followed by roles at Fansided and Get Football, where he primarily covered European football.

Experienced in digital storytelling, data analysis, and athlete interviews, Jyotirmoy now works as a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India's sports team. ‘No Favouritism’: CM Yogi Highlights UP’s Push on Startups, MSMEs & Jobs at TOI Youth Icons Summit Cong Under Fire Over ‘Fake AI Video’ as Army Debunks Chinese Intrusion Claims; Rijiju Hits Out 'We Will Examine': Supreme Court Defers SIR-Form 6 Plea as EC Defends 'Unanimous' Decisions '10k Crore Loss Amid Diwali': Delhi Traders Renew Appeal to Rahul Gandhi Over Ramlila Rally Yogi REVEALS ‘One Condition’ to DRDO for BrahMos, Says UP-Made Missile Left Pak in Turmoil 'Unfair Pricing Will Face...': Goyal On India-China Trade, Eyes Bigger Exports To Beijing & ASEAN