Real Madrid apologizes to China over Mbappe’s Mao remarks
publishers 64articles 86first reported 27 Oct, 03:54 UTCdeveloping since 27 Oct · 6 editions
Real Madrid apologized to the Chinese people on Wednesday after forward Kylian Mbappe drew criticism in China for remarks about a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong.
In a video from French football podcast The Bridge that was later removed, Mbappe was asked which meme featuring him he found funniest. He referred to an image of his face superimposed on that of “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator.” Mbappe did not name Mao, but the video displayed the altered image. He said he and his friends often used it while playing video games.
Mbappe apologized on Tuesday, calling his comment “ill-judged” and saying he understood that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world. He said he respected the Chinese people and their history and had not intended to cause offense.
Real Madrid said it apologized for “any discomfort caused by the recent words” of Mbappe and joined the player’s public expression of regret. La Liga president Javier Tebas also apologized over the controversy.
Chinese companies including Mengniu, Eastroc Beverage and Milkground announced that they were ending or suspending cooperation with Mbappe. China Media Group, which includes state broadcaster CCTV, suspended La Liga broadcasts involving the player and removed related advertising, while the Chinese Football Association lodged a protest with Real Madrid.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Wednesday that China took Mbappe’s apology seriously.
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 36 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
- 86
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 36 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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