China Suspends La Liga Broadcasts Following Backlash Over Kylian Mbappé Comments

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has decided to suspend all La Liga broadcasts following comments made by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé, which were deemed offensive to the country, according to reports from the BBC and EFE.

During a recent appearance on the YouTube channel The Bridge, Mbappé was asked about online memes comparing him to a dictator. "The one that makes me laugh the most is a video of a guy, I think he's a Chinese dictator," the forward admitted. Although he did not explicitly name the figure, an edited image was displayed showing former Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong with his face replaced by Mbappé's.

The backlash was swift, with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating: "We have noted the reports in question. Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society. Because his remarks were offensive to China and the Chinese people, we could not translate them." Reports also indicate that several major Chinese companies—including Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground, for whom Mbappé served as a brand ambassador—have already severed ties with the French star.