Kylian Mbappé faces China backlash as sponsors cut ties over viral meme

Kylian Mbappé is facing growing fallout in China over remarks apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator, with sponsors dropping the French striker and Spanish football broadcasts disrupted. China’s state broadcaster CCTV has warned that Mbappé’s apology will ultimately be judged by his actions. “We will listen to his words, but watch his actions even more closely,” an unnamed China Media Group representative said on Oct. 27, urging Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga to learn from the incident and mend their ways. A day earlier, the broadcaster had suspended La Liga coverage and matches involving the French forward, while also pulling advertisements in which he appeared.