Mbappé apologises as Chinese sponsors end partnerships after Mao meme backlash

Kylian Mbappé has apologised after comments about a meme apparently depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong prompted a backlash in China and the termination of commercial partnerships. BBC News reported that the Real Madrid and France forward acknowledged his remarks had upset people in China and Chinese communities elsewhere, and said he was sorry.

Watch the highlights:

Drinks company Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu announced on Tuesday that they were ending their cooperation with the player immediately, according to AFP. Both companies said they opposed conduct that offended national feelings. The announcements turned the controversy surrounding the circulating clip into a concrete commercial setback for one of football's most prominent players.

AFP reported that the footage appeared to show Mbappé discussing an internet meme in which his face was superimposed on an image resembling Mao. In the clip, he apparently described the figure as a Chinese dictator. AFP Fact Check said it could not immediately authenticate the video, an important limitation when describing the material that triggered the dispute.

BBC News said the clip was linked to the French talk show The Bridge, hosted by Mbappé's club team-mate Aurélien Tchouaméni. The original video was unavailable on the programme's YouTube channel, and the date when the interview first aired was unclear. The BBC also noted that Mbappé did not identify Mao by name in the footage circulating online.

The Associated Press reported that cheesemaker Milkground had also ended its agreement with Mbappé. The companies did not specify the reason for their decisions in their announcements, AP said. The news agency also reported that the Chinese Football Association had protested to Real Madrid and requested formal public apologies from both the club and the player.

La Liga issued its own apology, expressing regret over the offence caused to Chinese fans by Mbappé's remarks, the BBC reported. The response extended the issue beyond the player's individual endorsement deals to the Spanish league in which he competes. His apology acknowledged the hurt caused, while the timing and authenticity questions surrounding the original recording remained unresolved in the cited reporting.