China Suspends La Liga Broadcasts After Mbappé Remarks on Mao

China Media Group (CMG), which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, announced Tuesday that it had suspended La Liga broadcasts in China following remarks by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé about Mao Zedong.

Three Chinese companies ended their advertising agreements with Mbappé around the same time. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground each issued statements opposing words or actions that hurt national feelings. None of the three explained exactly why the deals were terminated.

The remarks appeared in a clip circulated on X ahead of Mbappé’s appearance on the French online talk show The Bridge. Asked about a favourite meme featuring him, Mbappé referred to a video he thought depicted a Chinese dictator. The clip then showed an edited image placing his face on Mao’s body.

Mbappé later apologised, saying his comment had hurt people in China and Chinese communities elsewhere and that he had not intended to cause offence. He added that he respected the Chinese people and their history.

Asked about the controversy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said remarks and actions that hurt the feelings of Chinese people would face opposition across Chinese society.