UPDATE 2 - Mbappe apologizes to Chinese people after brands end partnerships over remarks
- Real Madrid forward says his comment about meme depicting him as Mao Zedong 'ill-judged'
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- Real Madrid forward says his comment about meme depicting him as Mao Zedong 'ill-judged'
UPDATES WITH MBAPPE'S APOLOGY ; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK AND LEDE
By Saadet Gokce and Seyma Erkul Dayanc
ISTANBUL (AA) - Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe apologized on Tuesday to the Chinese people after remarks about a meme depicting him as Chinese leader Mao Zedong prompted Chinese brands to end partnerships with the French footballer.
The move followed the circulation of a video in which Mbappe, a French national, appears to say that his favorite meme is "the one where they put my face on a Chinese dictator (Mao Zedong)," adding that it makes him laugh and that he shares it with friends.
Mbappe apologized on Tuesday, saying his comment was "ill-judged" and acknowledging that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
"I apologize to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry," Mbappe said in a statement.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun also weighed in on the issue.
"Words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with joint resistance from all sectors of Chinese society," Guo told reporters in Beijing, according to an official transcript of his news briefing.
Dongpeng Beverage Group announced Tuesday that it was terminating its contract with Mbappe, according to Shanghai-based news outlet Guancha.
The company said it firmly opposed and had "zero tolerance" for behavior that hurts national sentiments.
Mbappe was the face of Bushuila, Dongpeng's electrolyte drink brand.
Chinese football platform Dongqiudi said late Monday that Mbappe had made inappropriate remarks about China in a recent interview, which "hurt the feelings of China and the Chinese people."
Mengniu, one of China's largest dairy producers, has also ended its cooperation with Mbappe over the issue, saying that the company does not tolerate "words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people," according to Jimu News.
Şeyma Erkul Dayanç,Saadet Gökce