China takes Mbappé apology 'seriously' after backlash over 'Chinese dictator' remark

BANGKOK -- China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it has taken soccer star Kylian Mbappé's apology “seriously” for comments considered to be disrespectful of Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China, as the fallout over the issue continues.Mbappé faced a backlash Tuesday over comments he made in an online interview, losing brand deals with at least three different Chinese companies. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground said in similarly worded statements that they were ending agreements with the star forward, each saying they oppose “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment.”“We take seriously the apology he has made,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun in a daily press briefing Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether Mbappé’s apology will help him regain the brand deals or other businesses he lost Tuesday. His team’s games remained unavailable to viewers in China Wednesday.“Of course, once a public figure's speech and actions cross the limit, or step on a red line, … he becomes a brand's negative asset,” said the Communist Party's official mouthpiece, the People's Daily, in an online column Wednesday. ...