Why Mbappé’s joke about Mao provoked China
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on RFI
A video showing Kylian Mbappé dressed as Mao Zedong prompted a reaction from China. Several Chinese sponsors ended their contracts and state broadcaster CCTV boycotted Real Madrid and La Liga matches, according to RFI.
According to RFI, China’s reaction to Kylian Mbappé’s joke about Mao Zedong is explained by the leader’s place in China’s political memory. A video showing the Real Madrid striker dressed as Mao and talking about a “Chinese dictator” led several Chinese sponsors to end their partnerships and state broadcaster CCTV to boycott matches involving the club and La Liga.
RFI’s Beijing-based correspondent, Clea Broadhurst, examines the reasons for the reaction and how Mao is represented in China. The controversy continued despite Mbappé’s apology, as reported in the previous article on Mbappé’s apology in China.
