Kylian Mbappe apologises after ‘dictator’ comment angers Chinese fans

Kylian Mbappe apologised after comments about a meme showing his face digitally placed on that of a “Chinese dictator”, apparently referring to Mao Zedong. The French football star called his remark “ill-judged” and said he understood it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world. In a statement published in French, Mandarin and English, he expressed respect for the Chinese people and their history. The controversy led two major Chinese brands to drop him.