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Mbappe apologizes as Chinese sponsors drop him and TV broadcasts are halted over Mao dictator remark

French soccer star Kylian Mbappe has apologized after apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator.

✦ Extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting•From 2 sources•1 min read•Updated October 28, 2026, 12:56 PM UTC

Mocking Mao Zedong is taboo in China, which is a lucrative market for players and teams such as Kylian Mbappe's Real.

Chinese sponsors have dropped him, while state television has suspended Spanish league broadcasts.

How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →

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Every article behind this summary — 2 articles from 2 outlets