CCTV stops airing Real Madrid games after Mbappé joke about Mao
China Media Group suspended La Liga broadcasts following the striker's apology for describing a meme of Mao Zedong as his favorite.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
China's state broadcaster CCTV skipped its scheduled broadcast of a Real Madrid match on Sunday. The channel did not air the game despite Kylian Mbappé issuing a public apology for his recent comments about a popular Chinese meme.
Mbappé drew sharp criticism after stating on the French talk show The Bridge that the meme making him laugh the most involved his face superimposed on a portrait of Mao Zedong. He described the image as resembling a Chinese dictator. The remark triggered a wave of backlash across the country.
In response, China Media Group, the parent organization of CCTV, announced on Tuesday that it would suspend all La Liga match broadcasts. The group had previously demanded apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid, and La Liga, calling them a necessary step to resolve the issue. All three parties have since apologized. China's foreign ministry stated it took the striker's apology seriously.
Mbappé addressed the incident on Tuesday, describing his comment as ill-judged. He said, "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world." Several Chinese brands also dropped the player following the furore.
Mao Zedong remains a revered figure within the Communist Party, even though he died in 1976. He led his party to victory in the civil war and founded the People's Republic of China. His rule included the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, periods marked by violent purges and a famine that killed tens of millions of people.
Beijing has previously halted sports broadcasts over political sensitivities. In October 2019, the country pulled NBA games for a year after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters. Morey later backtracked, saying he had appreciated the support of Chinese fans and sponsors and that offending them was not his intention.
Real Madrid played Racing Santander on Sunday and won 3-0. Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Yan Diomande scored the goals. China Media Group has acknowledged the apologies but has not stated how long the broadcast blackout will continue.
