China’s state broadcaster CCTV has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches following a backlash against Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé over comments referring to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a dictator, according to Chinese media outlet The Paper.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing a meme featuring his face superimposed on Mao’s body. The French striker reportedly described the figure as a Chinese dictator and said he regularly shared the meme with friends.
The remarks sparked widespread criticism on Chinese social media, with several companies reportedly ending their commercial partnerships with the footballer.
According to reports, CCTV has also removed content related to Mbappé from its news applications, as the backlash continues to spread across China.
Chinese beverage company Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheese manufacturer Milkground have announced the termination of their partnerships with the Real Madrid star, citing opposition to actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.
Neither Mbappé nor Real Madrid had publicly commented on the controversy at the time of reporting. The duration of the reported broadcasting suspension also remains unclear.
