Real Madrid issues apology to China over Mbappe controversy after state-run TV demands it

Real Madrid apologised to the Chinese people after state broadcaster CCTV criticised the club’s response to Kylian Mbappe laughing at a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong. The dispute matters because it led to commercial fallout and the suspension of La Liga broadcasts in China, prompting public apologies from the league, Mbappe and eventually his club.

The meme appeared in an interview on a French talk show hosted by Mbappe’s team-mate Aurélien Tchouaméni; the article says Mbappe’s nickname, “The Dictator”, was behind the joke. Mbappe said he understood that his comments had hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide, while Real Madrid said it regretted any distress and expressed respect for China and its fans. CCTV had said further discussion was off-limits until the club apologised.