Kylian Mbappé apologises for 'ill-judged' Mao remark after Chinese brands drop him
Football star Kylian Mbappé has apologised for what he called an ill-judged joke, after three Chinese brands cut ties with him over a meme linked to the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
Kylian Mbappé has apologised after a joke he made on a French talk show backfired in China, saying his words were ill-judged and that he is sincerely sorry.
On the show, Mbappé laughed at a meme that placed his face on a Chinese leader. He never named Mao Zedong, but fans understood exactly who was meant, and the clip spread quickly online.
Within hours, three Chinese brands ended their partnerships with the footballer, in a sign of how quickly commercial deals can unravel over a single public moment.
Spain's La Liga also apologised over the incident, adding to the pressure on Mbappé to address the backlash directly.
Mbappé has now said he regrets the joke, closing a brief but costly episode that mixed sport, celebrity endorsements and sensitive politics.
Reporting based on coverage from BBC News.