Mbappe's joke caused an international scandal. The reaction from the Chinese was immediate

Kylian Mbappe referred to Mao Zedong as a "dictator" during an internet program, sparking outrage in China. Following his comments, three major Chinese companies terminated their sponsorship deals with him. The Chinese government condemned his remarks, emphasizing that they hurt national sentiments. State media suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches featuring Real Madrid and blocked Mbappe's social media account. In response, Mbappe issued an apology, calling his comment "thoughtless" and stating he did not intend to offend anyone.