# China made Mbappé apologise, but many still do not know exactly what he said

https://mins.news/en/item/121948

- BBC News, 2026-10-29 23:03 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm3wv36d603yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

> A joke by Mbappé about a meme depicting him alongside a “Chinese dictator” resembling Mao Zedong triggered anger on Chinese social media. China Media Group suspended La Liga broadcasts and brands dropped him; Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga later apologised. Censorship has left many Chinese users unsure of the words that sparked the backlash.

## Related coverage

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- [Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga face a long road to redemption in China](https://mins.news/en/item/120548) — Al Jazeera, 2026-10-29
- [Mao meme backlash costs Mbappé Chinese sponsors; Real Madrid apologizes](https://mins.news/en/video/119983) — DW News, 2026-10-28