Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has apologised to the people of China after a video in which he appeared to joke about Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China, sparked backlash online.
The controversy has also led to the termination of two of his sponsorship deals in China, with energy drink maker Dongpeng and dairy group Mengniu ending their partnerships with the French international.
In a statement, Mbappé acknowledged that his comments during a recent interview were inappropriate and had offended people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said.
“I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention.”
The 27-year-old reaffirmed his respect for the Chinese people and their history, expressing regret over the controversy.
“I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” he added.
The apology follows the backlash over the video, which prompted the two companies to end their commercial relationships with the Real Madrid forward.
