Mbappé faces Chinese backlash over Mao Zedong meme
French soccer star Kylian Mbappé sparked backlash in China after joking about a meme comparing him to Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong, leading to broadcast suspensions, commercial deal terminations, and the removal of his content from digital platforms.
Meme Controversy and Diplomatic Fallout
During a recent interview, Mbappé said, “With the one I’ve laughed at the most is the one where they use my face on a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends.” Although he didn’t name any leader directly, the comment referenced widely circulated memes overlaying his image onto portraits of Mao Zedong.
The Chinese government responded swiftly. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that words and actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people would be condemned by all sectors of society. Broadcasters pulled coverage of Spain’s LaLiga, and several brands cut ties with Mbappé.
Who Was Mao Zedong
The figure at the center of the controversy is Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China. Born on December 26, 1893, in Shaoshan, Mao grew up in a peasant family and later became involved in Marxist literature while working at a university library in Beijing.
In 1921, he co-founded the Chinese Communist Party. After years of conflict and shifting alliances, including a brief collaboration with Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, Mao’s forces won the Chinese Civil War. On October 1, 1949, he proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
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Mao’s rule saw major upheavals. His Great Leap Forward campaign in 1958 aimed to rapidly modernize agriculture and industry but led to widespread famine and millions of deaths. A decade later, the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, marked by political purges and social chaos as Mao sought to preserve revolutionary ideals.
He opened diplomatic relations with the United States, welcoming President Richard Nixon in 1972. Mao died on September 9, 1976, leaving behind a legacy of both national reunification and immense human cost.
Mbappé’s Apology and Aftermath
Faced with mounting criticism, Mbappé issued an apology in French, Chinese, and English. “In a recent interview, I reacted to a photo of myself posing. That comment was a misstep, and I understand it may have hurt people in China and the global Chinese community,” he wrote. “I deeply respect the Chinese people and their history, and I sincerely apologize.”
His statement, released through his company Interconnected Ventures in Paris, acknowledged the sensitivity around depictions of historical figures in Chinese political discourse. Satirical portrayals of Communist Party leaders remain tightly controlled under laws prohibiting defamation of heroes and martyrs.
