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What is the controversy between Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and China?

What is the controversy between Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and China?

Summary

Kylian Mbappe faced backlash in China after a video appeared to show him joking about a meme that placed his face on Mao Zedong. The controversy reportedly affected commercial deals and prompted Chinese state television to cancel La Liga broadcasts, while Mbappe’s Chinese social media accounts faced restrictions.

Key Facts

  • A video filmed in April circulated online on Monday and showed Mbappe describing a meme of his face as a Chinese dictator.
  • Mbappe did not name Mao Zedong in the video, but the article says the remark was understood in China as referring to him.
  • The video was shared by French football podcast The Bridge and has since been taken down.
  • Mbappe apologized, but criticism continued on Chinese social media.
  • His accounts on Weibo and Xiaohongshu were restricted from gaining new followers.
  • The article reports that the backlash cost Mbappe several commercial deals.
  • Chinese state television scrapped La Liga broadcasts following the controversy.
  • The article says jokes about Mao, who ruled China from 1949 until his death in 1976, remain socially taboo in China.
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