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Mbappe's Mao meme remark: China in talks with Real Madrid and LaLiga
A throwaway comment about a meme has snowballed into blocked broadcasts, lost endorsements and a high-stakes diplomatic effort to protect Spanish football's Chinese audience.
China is in contact with Real Madrid and LaLiga over comments by Kylian Mbappe about a meme featuring Mao Zedong, a Chinese official said, as the fallout from the remark keeps hitting Spanish football's business in the country.
It started with a video that spread online. In it, the Real Madrid and France forward talked about a meme that put his face onto an image of Mao. Mbappe called the figure "some guy, I think he's a Chinese dictator." He did not name Mao, who led modern China from 1949 until his death in 1976.
The official said the episode "hurt the feelings of many people in China," who now have to come to terms with the situation. LaLiga, Real Madrid and Mbappe have all apologised.
The commercial damage has been quick. State broadcaster CCTV suspended its LaLiga coverage, and several Chinese brands dropped Mbappe from their marketing campaigns. Streaming platform Migu left out Real Madrid's match against Racing Santander last weekend, while still showing other Spanish games.
China Media Group said it would listen to Mbappe after his apology but, "more importantly," watch what he does next. In other words, words alone may not be enough.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas met the Chinese official last week and said on Monday that talks with Chinese authorities continue. He said the league is "working to resolve it" and still has an "extraordinary relationship" with CCTV and Migu. Migu's deal to show LaLiga runs to the end of the 2029-30 season.
The money at stake is smaller than it once was. Tebas said broadcast contracts with CCTV and Migu total about €10 million ($11.20 million) a year, down from a peak of €100 million. Real Madrid did not immediately comment. Source: ThePrint.
