Real Madrid Apologizes to China Over Mbappé Meme That Halted LaLiga Broadcasts

An answer in an interview, likely meant as a throwaway remark, ended up sparking a diplomatic and commercial mess that not even Real Madrid itself could avoid. The club was forced to step in on Wednesday and apologize "to the Chinese people" after comments from Kylian Mbappé about a meme comparing him to Mao Zedong triggered a storm that ultimately led to the suspension of LaLiga broadcasts in China.

It all began when the French forward was asked, in an interview, what his favorite meme was. Mbappé replied that the one he found funniest showed his face superimposed on a "Chinese dictator," without naming him directly, though the version circulating on social media uses an image of Mao Zedong. What could have stayed a harmless anecdote quickly turned into a serious problem.

The following day, the player suddenly lost his sponsorship deals with three Chinese companies: Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground. On top of that came restrictions on his content across digital platforms in the Asian country. Things escalated further when Javier Tebas, LaLiga's president, sent a letter to CMG calling the player's behavior "unacceptable" and apologizing for the offense caused. China's state broadcaster wasn't satisfied with that: it demanded that LaLiga, Real Madrid and, above all, Mbappé issue public apologies and send a written letter.

Mbappé responded by releasing a statement in French, Chinese and English in which he expressed regret over his comments and stressed his "deep respect" for Chinese history and its people. But that wasn't enough, and Real Madrid ended up joining in with its own statement on its official channels.

Real Madrid C.F. wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any distress that may have been caused by the recent comments made by our player Kylian Mbappé. Our club holds 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 MadridReal Madrid C.F.

The club didn't stop there and went a step further, directly backing its player's apology: "The club joins the public apology expressed by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player himself has voiced regret for his words and 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 wish to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and affection that unite it with China and its citizens," the statement added.

Tebas Works to Mend Ties with China

Meanwhile, Tebas worked another angle: he met with China's ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, in an attempt to find a way out of the controversy before it grew any further. It's no small gesture, considering LaLiga maintains cooperation agreements with Chinese entities, including a strategic partnership with the country's professional league that runs through 2029.

For now, LaLiga matches remain off the air in China, and it remains to be seen whether the apologies from Mbappé and Real Madrid, along with Tebas's efforts, will be enough to resolve the situation and get the cameras rolling again on the other side of the world.