
Kylian Mbappe has apologised for hurting many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.Real Madrid forward Mbappe said an ill-judged comment was absolutely not my intention following a reported backlash in the country over alleged remarks he made on YouTube show The Bridge, which is hosted by Blancos teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.The top scorer in Spain last season issued a statement shortly after La Liga apologised to Chinese football fans on behalf of clubs, offered respect to China and said it is working on plans to build awareness of different cultures.Chinese brands have dropped Mbappe over the reported remarks about a Chinese dictator, followed by a meme of his face being superimposed on an image resembling late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, according to the BBC.Kylian Mbappe: Full apology to people in ChinaDuring a recent interview, I reacted to an image featuring myself, said Mbappe. My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.I apologise to everyone my words have upset. That was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and I am sincerely sorry.What is Kylian Mbappe alleged to have said about China?In unverified clips online, Mbappe does not name Mao but says he uses the meme all the time with friends, adding that it makes me laugh the most theres a video of a guy, I think its a Chinese dictatorChinese football forum Dongqiudi reportedly highlighted the interview, calling it inappropriate and liable to hurt the feelings of Chinese people.Mao is an icon of the Communist Party in China, where the internet and digital content are subject to strict state control and the former leader is one of the most closely regulated topics.Satire or jokes about the countrys founding leader from 1949 until his death in 1976 are considered disrespectful and a social taboo.The original video is not on The Bridges YouTube channel and it is unclear when the episode first aired.Mbappe spoke in September about memes depicting him as a dictator. Part of it is funny because you get the sense that, for some people, its all in good fun, he told LEquipe.Theres also a less funny part because we know the damage these kinds of people have caused throughout history. To be compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions and millions of people unhappy I dont think Ive ever done anything like that in my life.So theres a mix of things. On the one hand, I know its done in a light-hearted way and doesnt go that far, but it sometimes shows a lack of political and human awareness in people.Kylian Mbappe: Full La Liga statementLa Liga said it deeply regrets the offence caused to Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent La Liga, it added.To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of La Liga and all its clubs.Spanish football upholds respect, coexistence, and unity among people of all cultures. We convey our respect to China, its institutions and its people and we deeply value the support of the millions of fans who follow us each week. We reaffirm our commitment to a relationship built over years. We are working with our partners and institutional interlocutors in China to address this situation.Likewise, in collaboration with the clubs and players, we will implement a protocol for awareness and communication that promotes respect for different cultures and helps prevent similar situations.Kylian Mbappe: What has the reaction been in China?On Tuesday morning, four topics related to Mbappe remained among the top 10 trending searches on Chinas social media platform, Weibo, Reuters reported.The report said some internet critics had called for China to blacklist Mbappe and reduce his commercial value to zero, receiving hundreds of likes in response.Reuters cited a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry as saying that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.Confirmed Chinese brands to have dropped MbappeThe countrys largest dairy producer, Mengniu, is immediately ceasing work with Mbappe, saying it firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.The Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage have followed suit, while drinks giant Dongpeng reportedly said the company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments.The BBC cited a report by state-owned newspaper The Global Times that state broadcaster CCTVs news apps will not feature Mbappe-related content and will stop showing La Liga matches. 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