Mbappé’s China Apology Sparks Debate Over Mocked Meme

WHO:

BBC - Kylian Mbappé made a comment about Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Fox News - Xi Van Fleet, a survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, criticized China’s backlash against Mbappé as “ridiculous.”

BBC - Mao Zedong remains central to the modern Chinese imagination.

BBC - Young people in China have shown renewed interest in Mao.

WHAT:

BBC - Mbappé’s comment about Mao sparked anger in China, and he apologized.

BBC - Censorship left many people unsure exactly what Mbappé had said.

Fox News - Xi Van Fleet said most Chinese people do not know what Mbappé said.

BBC - Mao’s embalmed body is on public display and draws tens of thousands of visitors every day.

BBC - Young people read Mao’s works and watch clips of him on social media.

WHERE:

BBC - Mao’s portrait overlooks Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

BBC - Mao’s embalmed body is displayed at Tiananmen Square.

Fox News - The backlash against Mbappé occurred in China.

WHY:

BBC - Mbappé’s comment about Mao sparked anger in China.

BBC - Censorship contributed to uncertainty about what Mbappé had said.

HOW:

BBC - Interest in Mao is reflected in young people reading his writings and watching clips of him on social media.

Mbappé apologized after his comment about Mao sparked anger across China, though censorship obscured what he had said. Mao remains central to China’s modern imagination, and his embalmed body draws tens of thousands of daily visitors. Young people are also reading Mao’s writings and watching clips of him online.