Kylian Mbappe has apologised to the Chinese people after comments about a humorous montage depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked controversy.
The Real Madrid and France forward acknowledged that his remark was clumsy and expressed regret to those who had been offended.
“Those comments were clumsy, and I now understand that they hurt many people in China and within the Chinese community around the world,” the France captain wrote in a message published on social media.
Mbappe said he had never intended to offend anyone and offered a further apology to those affected by his words.
“I apologise to everyone who was hurt by what I said. That was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” he added.
The incident prompted a strong reaction in China. Several Chinese companies announced that they were ending their partnerships with the player, while his remarks attracted widespread criticism on social media.
The controversy followed a video in which Mbappe reacted to a meme showing his face placed on a depiction of Mao Zedong.
His statement is intended to ease tensions and reaffirm his respect for the Chinese people, as the consequences of the controversy have extended beyond football.
