Real Madrid have issued an official apology to the Chinese people as the row over Kylian Mbappe’s ill-judged comments about Mao Zedong shows no sign of abating.
Mbappe apologized on Tuesday after suggesting that he found a meme that superimposed his face on “some guy, I think he’s a Chinese dictator.” The meme in question featured Mao, the country’s founding leader who died in 1976. Mao’s policies are widely blamed for mass starvation and millions of deaths, but it’s still taboo in China to mock a historical figure of his prominence.
There have been reports that Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches in protest and Real Madrid moved to apologize on Wednesday.
A statement from the club was read: “Real Madrid would like to express its apologies to the Chinese people for the inconvenience that may have been caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappé.
“Our club has a deep respect for China, its history, its culture and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who feel affection and admiration for Real Madrid.
“The club joins the public apology expressed by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player himself has expressed his regret for his words and has reiterated his respect for the Chinese people.
“Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to the values of respect, coexistence and understanding between cultures, and expresses its will to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and affection that unite it with China and its citizens.”
Kylian Mbappe: Full apology to the people of China
Mbappe, who made the remarks on the YouTube show The Bridge hosted by Blancos team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, showed remorse for his words on Tuesday.
“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 unverified online clips, Mbappe does not name 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.
The original video is not found on The Bridge’s YouTube channel and it is unclear when the episode first aired. Mbappe spoke in September about memes depicting him as a dictator, which is his apparent nickname in the Madrid dressing room. “Partly it’s fun because you get the feeling that, for some people, everything is fun,” he told L’Equipe.
“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 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 said 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 we deeply value 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?
As of Tuesday morning, four Mbappe-related topics remained among the top 10 most popular searches on China’s social media platform, Reuters reported.
The report said some internet critics had called for China to blacklist Mbappe and “reduce his commercial value to zero”, receiving hundreds of likes in response.
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.”
