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Mbappé caused controversy when he mentioned memes related to Mao Zedong and Chinese companies quickly shut down the controversy; The article also reminded that Bi Fujian was heavily fined for ridiculing Mao Zedong, highlighting the sensitivity of relevant comments in China.
French soccer star Kylian Mbappe recently said in a YouTube interview that his favorite Internet meme is “synthesizing his face on the body of the Chinese dictator (Mao Zedong).” This statement frightened Chinese companies into immediately removing Mbappé-related products from the shelves and announcing the end of cooperation with them.
In China, there is a very clear “red line” between what can be made fun of and what should not be touched. In 2015, CCTV host Bi Fujian was criticized by state media and publicly apologized for teasing Mao Zedong at a private dinner. His career suffered a lot.
➤➤➤Mbappé also insulted China and said he liked “Mao Zedong memes” the most, and his endorsement contract was terminated
In April 2015, a one-minute video circulated on the Internet. Bi Fujian, who was the host of CCTV at that time, sang the revolutionary model drama “Taking Tiger Mountain by Wisdom” at a private dinner, occasionally adding comments mocking Mao Zedong.
Bi Fujian sang a line of commentary. When he shouted “Communist Party! Chairman Mao!” sang, he used foul language to criticize Mao Zedong and said, “This has hurt us.” When he sang “The people of the liberated areas fought against the landlords and overthrew them”, he then asked: “Did the landlords provoke you?” The guests laughed after hearing this, but as soon as the video surfaced, there was a political uproar.
CCTV said at the time that Bi Fujian’s comments had serious social impact and would be dealt with seriously in accordance with relevant regulations. Xinhua News Agency and other official media also criticized him one after another, and relevant organizations even revoked his title of “Ambassador of Love”.
Bi Fujian later apologized publicly on Weibo, saying, “I feel very guilty and sad.” He also promised that as a public figure, he would learn a lesson and be strict with himself. Bi Fujian was forced to resign from CCTV after criticizing former leader Mao Zedong.
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The political storm that arose because of Mbappé has not stopped yet. Jimu News, a new media affiliated with Hubei Chutian Metropolis Daily, published a commentary criticizing Mbappé for “breaking the pot and being ungrateful, which will never be tolerated.” It emphasized that public figures should respect the sentiments of China and the Chinese people when conducting business activities in China.
Mbappe, 28, is a French professional football player who currently plays for La Liga club Real Madrid and serves as the captain of the French national football team. Mbappe was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023, and was listed as one of the top ten highest-paid athletes in the world by Forbes magazine in 2023 and 2024.
Summary FAQ
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His favorite Internet meme, he said, involves merging his face with that of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The statement was seen as touching a politically sensitive red line and provoked a sharp reaction in China.
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Reports suggest that several Chinese companies immediately announced that they would remove Mbappé-related products from their shelves and end cooperation with him. This shows that even business cooperation can be quickly affected on politically sensitive issues.
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The article cites the case of Bi Fujian, who was officially criticized, apologized and left CCTV in 2015 for teasing Mao Zedong in private, demonstrating that unlike the Mbappé controversy, mocking Mao Zedong is a high-risk speech in China.
