Several Chinese brands have ended their partnerships with French forward Kylian Mbappe after a viral comment about a meme linked to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked controversy.

In an interview for the French online show The Bridge, hosted by Aurelien Tchouameni, Mbappe said his favourite meme of himself involved his face being edited onto an image of what he described as a Chinese dictator.

The Real Madrid forward did not explicitly name Mao Zedong, who led the People's Republic of China from its founding in 1949 until his death in 1976. However, the circulating clip was interpreted as a reference to the former leader, and the controversy became a trending topic on Chinese social media.

Mbappe has a substantial following in China and several commercial partnerships in the market, but the circulating clip has prompted criticism on Chinese social media, a response from the Foreign Ministry and the termination of several brand agreements.

Chinese brands cut ties with Mbappé after viral comment

China's Foreign Ministry responded to the controversy by saying that remarks considered offensive to the Chinese people would naturally face opposition from across Chinese society.

"We have noted the relevant reports. Words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society," spokesperson Lin Jian, said per BBC.

According to to a report by Spanish news agency EFE, citing Chinese media reports, state broadcaster CCTV has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and games involving Mbappe. The reported suspension also includes the removal of advertisements and videos featuring the forward.

Chinese dairy producer Mengniu and beverage company Dongpeng have ended their partnerships with Mbappe, citing zero-tolerance policies towards words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Cheese producer Milkground has also announced that it is ending its agreement with the forward.

Mbappe apologises after backlash over interview comment

Mbappe has apologised to people in China and Chinese communities worldwide, saying that his comment was ill-judged and that he had not intended to cause offence.

He added that he has deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.

"During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself," Mbappe said in a statement.

"My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.

"I apologise 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."

La Liga apologises to China as Javier Tebas seeks to limit fallout

La Liga president Javier Tebas apologised to Chinese fans, expressing regret over Mbappe's comments and stressing that the actions of an individual should not damage the league's longstanding relationship with China or harm its clubs.

Tebas said La Liga was working with its Chinese partners and other stakeholders to address the controversy and strengthen cultural awareness across the competition.

"From La Liga, we deeply regret the statements made by Kylian Mbappé that have caused discomfort and offense in China," Tebas tweeted. "We understand the harm caused and, on behalf of La Liga, I wish to convey our sincere apologies to the Chinese people.

"For many years, we have built a relationship of respect, trust, and cooperation with China, its authorities, its sports institutions, its audiovisual operators, and millions of fans of Spanish football.

"We cannot allow an individual action to tarnish that relationship or harm the more than 20 clubs in our professional competitions and millions of Chinese fans.

"We are taking the measures within our reach and working directly with our partners and interlocutors in China to overcome this situation.

"Our commitment to China, its people, and its institutions is steadfast. A relationship built over so many years cannot be damaged by a single episode."

In China, political speech and depictions of historical figures can be subject to strict restrictions. The country's law on the protection of heroes and martyrs criminalises certain forms of defamation, although the precise legal implications of Mbappé's comment have not been established.