"Mao is the greatest criminal in history": the Kylian Mbappe controversy as seen by Thierry Wolton, a specialist in communism

Kylian Mbappé has formally apologized to China for labeling Mao Zedong a dictator, a remark that triggered severe diplomatic friction and resulted in the loss of major commercial partnerships. The French footballer admitted his comment was ill-judged in a statement released in three languages, following intense backlash from Chinese institutions and brands. Real Madrid, his current club, also issued a separate apology expressing deep respect for China and its citizens. The controversy stems from a video clip aired on the French talk show The Bridge, where Mbappé discussed internet memes featuring his face superimposed on images of historical figures. He identified the version with Mao as his favorite, referring to the former leader as a Chinese dictator. The incident began when behind-the-scenes footage from a podcast filmed in March was posted online. In the clip, Mbappé explained that he found certain memes amusing, specifically pointing to the one involving Mao. This description sparked immediate outrage on Chinese social media platforms, particularly Weibo, where users demanded an apology. The reaction was swift and severe. Several Chinese broadcasters halted coverage of La Liga matches and content related to Mbappé. Specifically, sports channels on the state-owned CCTV network suspended broadcasts of La Liga games. Consequently, Real Madrid’s match against Racing Santander scheduled for Sunday will not be shown in China. Commercial repercussions followed immediately. Mbappé lost sponsorship agreements with Eastroc Beverage, a Chinese energy drinks company, and Mengniu Dairy. Additionally, the Swiss sportswear brand On removed all references to the athlete from its communications within China. These actions occurred before Mbappé’s formal apology was released. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated prior to the apology that words and deeds hurting the feelings of the Chinese people would meet opposition from all sectors of society. The sensitivity surrounding the topic is rooted in the official Communist Party assessment of Mao, which characterizes him as seventy percent good and thirty percent bad. The negative aspects include the Great Leap Forward, an economic experiment linked to a famine that killed tens of millions, and the Cultural Revolution, a decade-long purge that encouraged children to denounce family members. Despite this official critique, Mao remains revered in China, with his portrait displayed prominently in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. In France, the incident generated political debate. Mathilde Panot, a deputy for the Left Front party, declined to qualify Mao as a dictator when questioned on TF1 television, stating she preferred to discuss other topics. Her colleague Antoine Léaument defended a closer relationship with China, suggesting little difference existed between the authoritarian regime with a single party and France under President Emmanuel Macron. However, Thierry Wolton, a specialist in communism and author of a global history of the ideology, criticized these responses. He argued that Panot and her party demonstrated ignorance and ideological bad faith by refusing to label Mao a dictator or compare the Chinese system to contemporary France. Mbappé had previously addressed the meme phenomenon in an interview with the French magazine L’Equipe. While acknowledging some memes were funny, he noted that others showed a lack of political and human awareness. He expressed discomfort at being compared to individuals responsible for mass suffering, stating he had never done anything similar in his life. His teammate Ousmane Dembélé had also joked about the nickname during the 2026 World Cup, referencing Mobutu Sese Seko, the former ruler of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Bridge program itself apologized to both Chinese fans and Mbappé, and subsequently removed the clip from its social media accounts. The term dictator in this context refers to Mbappé’s perceived authority over football clubs and media, a nickname used by fans. The removal of the video and the series of apologies aim to mitigate the damage to sporting relations and commercial interests in the region.