China’s state broadcaster CCTV refused to televise Real Madrid’s latest match despite Kylian Mbappé apologising for mocking former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The French striker sparked outrage after describing a meme depicting him as a Chinese dictator resembling Mao as particularly amusing, prompting several Chinese brands to sever ties with him. CCTV’s parent company, China Media Group, subsequently suspended broadcasts of Spain’s La Liga, demanding apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and the league.
Although all three have apologised and China’s foreign ministry acknowledged Mbappé’s expression of regret, the broadcaster has yet to announce when coverage will resume. The controversy highlights Beijing’s sensitivity surrounding Mao, whose rule included catastrophic famine and political purges that killed millions.
China previously imposed a year-long NBA broadcast suspension following a Houston Rockets executive’s support for Hong Kong protesters in 2019. Meanwhile, Real Madrid defeated Racing Santander 3-0 on Sunday, with Mbappé among the scorers, although Chinese television audiences were denied the opportunity to watch.
