Kylian Mbappé apologized to China on Tuesday after a video surfaced of him reacting to a meme that placed his face over an image of Mao Zedong, calling the former Chinese leader a “dictator” — a nod to his own nickname on the soccer field.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappé wrote. “I apologize to everyone my words have upset. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”
The apology came only after several Chinese companies cut ties with Mbappé. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also suspended its La Liga coverage, which pushed the league itself into damage-control mode.
“La Liga deeply regrets the offense caused by Kylian Mbappé’s recent comments among Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent LALIGA. To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of LALIGA and all its clubs,” the league said.
A familiar pattern
Mbappé is only the latest athlete to retreat the moment China’s market was threatened. LeBron James, who in 2018 declared he “won’t be silent on social issues” because he’s “more than a basketball player,” took a different line in 2019 after then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image reading “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.”
James called Morey “misinformed” and “not really educated,” and warned other NBA players about the cost of speaking out.
“And so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually. So just be careful what we tweet and say and we do. Even though, yes, we do have freedom of speech, there can be a lot of negative that comes with that, too.” — LeBron James
James Harden, then a Rockets star, went further and apologized for his own general manager’s post: “We apologize. We love China. We love playing there.” Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry and other NBA stars who have been outspoken critics of America largely stayed silent on China during the episode.
WWE star John Cena offered a similar bow in 2021. While promoting Fast & Furious 9, Cena referred to Taiwan as a “country,” drawing objections from Chinese officials who claim Taiwan as Chinese territory. Cena responded with a video apology delivered in Mandarin.
Tennis player Taylor Townsend apologized last year after criticizing the food served at the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, including a dish featuring sea cucumbers. “What the hell? This is crazy. I have never seen one of these up close, especially not to eat,” she had said. After Chinese viewers objected, Townsend walked it back: “There is no excuse. There are no words. I will be better. I truly apologize.”
None of it was warranted
The people of Hong Kong deserve freedom. Taiwan is its own country in practice. Finding unfamiliar food strange is not a crime. And Mao Zedong was a dictator, responsible for a death toll that puts him in the company of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.
These athletes present themselves as bold, principled voices willing to take on America’s institutions. But when the Chinese Communist Party applies pressure through lost sponsorships and blocked broadcasts, the courage disappears. The silence, and the apologies, follow the money.
