Mbappé apologises as Chinese brands cut ties over Mao-related remark
publishers 38articles 41first reported 27 Oct, 03:54 UTCdeveloping since 27 Oct · 6 editionstop 25 #12
French footballer Kylian Mbappé apologised on Tuesday after Chinese companies ended partnerships with him over a video in which he referred to a figure resembling Mao Zedong as a “Chinese dictator.”
The circulating clip shows the Real Madrid forward discussing his favourite internet meme about himself. Mbappé said it featured his face superimposed on “some guy” whom he believed was a Chinese dictator. He did not identify Mao by name, but the image appeared to depict the founder of the People’s Republic of China.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappé said in an apology published in French, Mandarin and English. He said he respected the Chinese people and their history and had not intended to cause offence.
Chinese beverage company Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheesemaker Milkground announced that they were ending their partnerships with Mbappé. The companies said they opposed conduct that offended national sentiment. Mbappé’s account on the Xiaohongshu social platform was also suspended for violating community guidelines, NBC News reported.
La Liga apologised to Chinese fans and said Mbappé’s remarks were made personally and did not represent the league. China Media Group suspended La Liga broadcasts and removed advertisements featuring Mbappé, according to Deutsche Welle. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said words or actions that hurt the feelings of Chinese people would face opposition across Chinese society.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 38
- Source articles
- 41
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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