Chinese brands cut ties with Kylian Mbappé over a 'Chinese dictator' remark, and Mbappé apologizes

Summary

Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé over comments deemed insulting to founding father Mao Zedong as an online backlash grew, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday 27 October, two brands according to Bloomberg and Business Insider, which named the drinks company Dongpeng and the dairy producer Mengniu, and three sponsors according to Forbes. The backlash followed a clip from the French podcast 'The Bridge' in which Mbappé, describing the meme that made Mbappé laugh the most, referred to a 'Chinese dictator', the video then cutting to an image of Mao with Mbappé's face, Business Insider reported, adding that shares in the shoemaker On, which sponsors Mbappé, fell and that Chinese state TV suspended broadcasts of La Liga, according to the Spanish news agency EFE. Mbappé apologized on Tuesday, calling the comment 'ill-judged' and saying it hurt many people in China, Business Insider and PBS NewsHour reported. On Wednesday 28 October China acknowledged the apology, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News reported, while Chinese state media warned that the apology would be judged against Mbappé's actions, according to CNBC, Bloomberg reported that the Communist Party's official newspaper warned global celebrities they risk losing their commercial appeal in China if they offend local audiences, and Forbes that Real Madrid apologized for the comments after Chinese state broadcasters reportedly stopped airing games featuring the player.

Latest: China acknowledged Kylian Mbappé's apology for remarks referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News reported, as Chinese state media warned that the apology would be judged against Mbappé's actions, according to CNBC, Bloomberg reported the Communist Party newspaper's warning to global celebrities, and Forbes that Real Madrid apologized for the comments after Chinese state broadcasters reportedly stopped airing games featuring the player.

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