Chinese censorship obscures Mbappé’s remarks about Mao
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on MyJoyOnline
Censorship in China prevented many internet users from learning exactly what Kylian Mbappé’s joke about a meme depicting Mao Zedong was, despite the anger it sparked online. The French player later apologised after a backlash from Chinese companies and the suspension of Spanish league broadcasts, MyJoyOnline reported.
Chinese censorship restricted the circulation of Kylian Mbappé’s comments about Mao Zedong as the controversy surrounding the French forward grew on social media, MyJoyOnline reported. Many internet users were still trying to find out what he had said, while posts sharing the video blurred the meme and obscured references to the Chinese leader.
Online anger intensified after a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that remarks hurting the feelings of the Chinese people would face opposition from all sections of society. Internet users called Mao, the founder of communist China, a central spiritual figure and rejected Mbappé’s apology. The Real Madrid forward had apologised for a remark deemed inappropriate, while public broadcaster China Media Group continued to suspend broadcasts of the Spanish league, La Liga, according to MyJoyOnline.
Internet users tried to get explanations from artificial intelligence chatbots in an environment where censorship limits access to the global internet. The controversy follows Mbappé’s apology on 27 October and the Chinese broadcaster’s continued suspension of La Liga, confirmed on 29 October.
