Kylian Mbappé apologized one day after remarks that were seen in China as mocking Mao Zedong, according to KBS 뉴스. The controversy has prompted a wave of pushback in the country, with KBS 뉴스 reporting that Chinese companies and platforms have been distancing themselves from the footballer.
Coverage cited by KBS 뉴스 shows the reaction has not faded since the apology. 경향신문 reported that Chinese sentiment remained unsettled even after Mbappé said sorry, while 동아일보 reported that trust would be hard to rebuild. KBS 뉴스 also reported that Chinese media used the episode to warn overseas public figures against damaging their standing in the market.
The episode has drawn attention beyond China as well. OSEN reported that voices in the United States weighed in on the dispute, and that some Chinese fans described the characterization of Mao as historically accurate. Those reactions are reported by OSEN and have not been independently verified by CYBEV.io.
Mbappé has not been reported by KBS 뉴스 as facing any formal sanction. The material available does not specify the exact wording of his original remarks or the full text of his apology.
What to watch next: whether Chinese sponsors and platforms continue to pull back, and whether Mbappé or his representatives issue further statements as reported by KBS 뉴스 and other outlets.
