Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho said that "often the best thing you can do is keep your mouth shut" when asked about the backlash over Kylian Mbappe's comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Speaking at a pre-match news conference ahead of Sunday's La Liga game at Racing Santander, Mourinho described Mbappe's remarks as "ill-judged" but praised the French forward for acting "very responsibly" and showing "true class" by apologising quickly.
Mbappe's Apology and Backlash
Mbappe, who has scored 11 league goals for Real Madrid this season, apologised on Tuesday after a clip from a French talk show showed him saying the meme that made him laugh most featured his face superimposed on an image resembling Mao Zedong. The comments sparked outrage on Chinese social media and led several Chinese brands to end their partnerships with the player. In his statement, Mbappe acknowledged that his words "hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world."
Mourinho also dismissed concerns about artificial intelligence-generated fake videos, saying he feels "very well represented" by both the club and the player. The Portuguese manager, who won La Liga with Real Madrid in 2011-12, added that the matter is closed as far as the club is concerned.
