Mbappe and La Liga China ban, here is what happened
Following the news of the cancellation of Mbappe's sponsorships in China to the banning of the La Liga, here is everything to know.
Chinese state television has reportedly suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches following a controversy involving Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and a viral internet meme depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing a meme featuring his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator. Asked about the funniest meme he had seen of himself, the French international reportedly described it as an image of his face placed on “some guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator.”
Although Mbappé did not explicitly name Mao Zedong, the comments were widely interpreted as a reference to the former Chinese leader, who remains a highly sensitive historical figure in China. Reuters and AFP reported that they could not independently authenticate the circulating video.
The remarks triggered a backlash on Chinese social media, with several users calling for action against the footballer and his commercial partners.
Chinese brands terminate partnerships with Mbappé
The fallout quickly extended beyond social media, as several Chinese companies announced the termination of their commercial relationships with the Real Madrid star.
Beverage company Dongpeng Beverage and dairy companies Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground were among the brands that announced they were ending their partnerships with Mbappé, citing opposition to conduct that offends or hurts the feelings of Chinese people.
Chinese state television broadcaster CCTV also reportedly suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and removed advertisements and videos featuring the forward, according to reports citing Chinese media outlet The Paper.
The reported suspension has raised concerns about the commercial impact of the controversy on Spanish football's relationship with the Chinese market. However, the reports do not establish that every broadcaster or streaming platform in China has imposed the same restrictions.
Why is Mao Zedong such a sensitive figure in China?
Mao Zedong was the founding leader of the People's Republic of China and remains a prominent figure in the country's political history.
Although his legacy is also associated with devastating policies and mass suffering, depictions or jokes involving Mao can provoke strong public reactions in China, where historical and political content is subject to strict sensitivities.
The controversy surrounding Mbappé reflects the potential consequences international celebrities face when comments or online trends are perceived as disrespectful to Chinese history and national identity.
Mbappé issues an apology to China
Following the backlash, Mbappé issued an apology, acknowledging that his comments were poorly judged and had hurt people in China and members of the Chinese community worldwide.
He expressed regret for any offence caused and said he had deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
La Liga president Javier Tebas also apologised on behalf of the Spanish league, saying the organisation regretted the offence caused and was working with its Chinese partners to resolve the situation. He stressed the importance of protecting the relationship built between La Liga and China over many years.
The incident has now developed into a broader commercial and broadcasting controversy, with consequences extending beyond Mbappé himself to La Liga and its presence in China. Whether the reported broadcasting restrictions will be lifted remains unclear.
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