Kylian Mbappe has apologized for hurting “many people in China and Chinese communities around the world”.
Against Real Madrid Mbappé said an “ill-judged” comment was “absolutely not my intention” following a backlash in the country over alleged comments he made on YouTube show The Bridge, which is hosted by Los Blancos team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Spain’s top scorer last season issued a statement shortly after The League apologized to Chinese football fans on behalf of the clubs, offered “respect” to China and said it is working on plans to create awareness of “different cultures”.
Chinese brands have dropped Mbappe over reported remarks about “a Chinese dictator”, followed by a meme of his face superimposed over an image resembling late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, according to the BBC.
Kylian Mbappe: Full apology to the people of China
“During a recent interview, I reacted to a picture he showed me,” Mbappe said. “My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
“I apologize to everyone whom my words have offended. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and I am truly sorry.”
What would Kylian Mbappe have said about China?
In the unverified online clips, Mbappe is unnamed Mao but says he uses the meme “all the time” with friends, adding that “it makes me laugh more…there’s a video of a guy, I think he’s a Chinese dictator…”
Chinese football forum Dongqiudi highlighted the interview, calling it “inappropriate” and likely to “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”.
Mao is an icon of the Communist Party in China, where the Internet and digital content are subject to strict state control and the former leader is one of the most regulated subjects.
Satire or jokes about the country’s founding leader from 1949 until his death in 1976 are considered disrespectful and a social taboo.
The original video is not found on The Bridge’s YouTube channel and it is unclear when the episode first aired.
Mbappe spoke out in September about memes depicting him as a dictator. “Part of it is fun because you get the feeling that, for some people, everything is fun,” he said. the team.
“There is also a less funny part because we know the damage that these types of people have caused throughout history.
“To be compared to people who kill others, or who have made millions and millions of people unhappy… I don’t think I’ve done anything like that in my life.
“So there’s a mix of things. On the one hand, I know it’s done in a light-hearted way and it doesn’t go that far, but sometimes it shows a lack of political and human awareness in people.”
Kylian Mbappe: Full statement from La Liga
The league says it “deeply regrets the offense caused” to Chinese fans. “These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent the League,” he added.
“To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of the League and all its clubs.
“spanish football defends respect, coexistence and unity between people of all cultures. We convey our respect to China, its institutions and its people, and deeply appreciate the support of the millions of fans who follow us every week.
“We reaffirm our commitment to a relationship built over the years. We are working with our partners and institutional interlocutors in China to address this situation.
“Also, in collaboration with the clubs and players, we will implement an awareness and communication protocol that promotes respect for different cultures and helps prevent similar situations.”
Kylian Mbappe: What has been the reaction in China?
On Tuesday morning, four Mbappe-related topics remained in the top 10 searches on China’s social media platform Weibo. Reuters informed
The report said some internet critics had called for China to blacklist Mbappe and “reduce his commercial value to zero”, receiving hundreds of likes.
Reuters quoted a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman as 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.”
It was confirmed that Chinese brands have dropped Mbappe
The country’s largest dairy producer, Mengniu, immediately stopped working with Mbappe, saying it “strongly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”
Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage have followed suit, while beverage giant Dongpeng said the company “strongly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behavior that offends national sentiments.”
The BBC cited state newspaper The Global Times as reporting that state broadcaster CCTV’s news apps will not include Mbappe-related content and will stop showing La Liga matches.
