2 éditeurs · vu pour la première fois 6 novembre 2026 à 13:45 UTC · mis à jour 7 novembre 2026 à 05:32 UTC
Chinese broadcasters and commercial partners have distanced themselves from Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe after the footballer's comments about a meme featuring former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Despite apologies from Mbappe, Real Madrid, and LaLiga, Chinese broadcasters have suspended coverage of LaLiga matches, and several Chinese brands have dropped Mbappe from their marketing campaigns. China's ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, has stated that while communication is ongoing, there are no formal negotiations to resume broadcasts. The incident has highlighted the sensitivity of political references in China and the commercial risks for international sports entities in the country.
The controversy began when a video of Mbappe discussing a meme with his face superimposed on Mao Zedong's image circulated online. Although Mbappe did not explicitly mention Mao, his description of the figure as a 'Chinese dictator' was widely understood as a reference to the former Chinese leader. Mao remains a sensitive figure in China, and satirical references to him can provoke strong reactions.
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