A video clip in which Kylian Mbappé joked about a meme superimposing his face onto the historical figure of Mao Zedong triggered a wave of outrage across digital platforms in China. As reported by BBC News, the incident took place while the athlete was attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, spreading rapidly among fans.

The commercial and institutional reaction was immediate. Several Chinese brands severed ties with the French footballer, while China Media Group, the parent company of state broadcaster CCTV, decided to block broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing also condemned statements that hurt the feelings of the population.

Due to information restrictions and moderation filters on the Chinese web, many users were unable to view the precise details of the original comment. Shares circumvented the bans by censoring Mao's name or using periphrases, while the player's account on the Weibo platform faced restrictions on acquiring new followers.

Faced with the escalation, the forward issued a formal apology describing his remark as ill-considered, a step also taken by Real Madrid and the management of the Spanish tournament. Chinese authorities stated that they are taking the clarification into serious consideration, although the resumption of sports broadcasts has not yet been announced.