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Survivor of Mao’s cultural revolution speaks out on Kylian Mbappe fallout in China over laughed-at meme
Footballer Kylian Mbappe faced a backlash in China after laughing at a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong, prompting Chinese sponsors to drop him and state broadcaster CCTV to stop showing La Liga matches. Xi Van Fleet, a Chinese-American author who lived through Mao’s Cultural Revolution, criticised the reaction and the swift apologies, arguing that people in China were told he had insulted the country and lacked access to the full context.
The meme was discussed during an interview on a French talk show hosted by Mbappe’s Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni; Mbappe laughed because one of his nicknames is “The Dictator”. La Liga, Mbappe and Real Madrid each apologised, with the club issuing a formal apology after CCTV demanded one. Van Fleet said she would have urged Mbappe to stand by his words, and described Mao as a mass murderer responsible for up to 80 million deaths.
In short
- Mbappe faced commercial and broadcast consequences in China over a Mao meme.
- Chinese-American author Xi Van Fleet criticised the backlash and apologies.
- Real Madrid apologised after state broadcaster CCTV demanded it.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics of the backlash can argue that a spontaneous laugh at a joke about Mbappe’s nickname was not an intentional insult to China, and that apologies made under pressure from sponsors and state media risk rewarding disproportionate censorship. They may also argue that allowing the meme and its context to be discussed openly would better serve the public than presenting the incident as an affront everyone must condemn.
The case against
Those defending the reaction can argue that public figures and international organisations should take care with imagery involving a leader who remains politically and historically significant in China, where many people may see the comparison as disrespectful. They may regard apologies as a reasonable effort to acknowledge offence and maintain relationships with Chinese audiences, sponsors and broadcasters, even if Mbappe’s laughter was not intended as a political statement.
Explained simply
Mao Zedong led China from the Communist Party’s victory in 1949 until his death in 1976. His rule included the Cultural Revolution, a campaign launched in 1966 that brought political persecution and widespread upheaval. Estimates of deaths under Mao vary, and historians debate the figures.
Kylian Mbappe is a French footballer who plays for Real Madrid, which competes in Spain’s La Liga. In China, international sport also reaches audiences through sponsors and state media, including broadcaster CCTV. Xi Van Fleet is a Chinese-American author who says she experienced the Cultural Revolution before moving to the United States.
The episode has drawn attention to how a joke involving a political figure can be interpreted differently across countries. It also raises questions about the influence of Chinese sponsors and broadcasters over how international football is presented there.
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