Kylian Mbappé apologises after Mao Zedong remark sparks outrage in China, sponsorship losses and TV boycott

The Real Madrid star faces a growing backlash after referring to a figure in an internet meme as a ‘Chinese dictator’, prompting three Chinese companies to cut ties, social media restrictions and the suspension of LaLiga broadcasts. French football superstar Kylian Mbappé has apologised following a major backlash in China over comments apparently referring to Mao Zedong as a dictator, after several Chinese companies terminated their sponsorship agreements with the Real Madrid forward. The controversy, which erupted after footage from an interview circulated online, has rapidly escalated into a commercial and diplomatic dispute, with China’s state television suspending broadcasts of…