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French football star Kylian Mbappé has apologised after his remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked controversy in China and prompted several Chinese companies to end their commercial partnerships with him.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappé said in a statement on Tuesday.
“I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” he added.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing the Real Madrid forward discussing an internet meme featuring his face digitally superimposed on an image of Mao.
During the interview, Mbappé described Mao as “a Chinese dictator”.
Chinese companies Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground subsequently announced that they were ending their partnerships with the French international, citing opposition to words and actions that hurt national sentiment.
Spain’s La Liga also expressed regret over the offence caused to Chinese fans, stressing that Mbappé’s comments were made in his personal capacity and did not represent the league.
The incident triggered criticism and calls for a boycott on Chinese social media.
Mao, who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949, remains a sensitive historical figure in the country.
