Xi Van Fleet, a Chinese-American author and anti-communist activist, joined Fox Business on Thursday, and when asked about Mbappe's practically immediate apology, she laid out the reality of the situation."This is really interesting, because most of the people in China have no idea what Mbappe said," she began."They were told that he insulted China.
You have no freedom of speech, you have no freedom of press, you don't know what really happened.You just do what the government tells you to do.Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid v RB Leipzig at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 21, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) (Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)"Is Mao not a dictator? I lived my entire youth under Mao, and there is no one who doesn't know anyone else who died because of Mao's rule.
He killed up to 80 million Chinese.Calling him a dictator is not even appropriate.
He is a tyrant, and he is a mass murderer."The controversy involving China and Mbappe started after a recent interview on The Bridge, a French talk show hosted by Mbappe's Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, when the 27-year-old Frenchman laughed about a meme with his face imposed on an image resembling Mao.One of Mbappe's most popular nicknames is "The Dictator," hence the meme and joking around.BOBBY BURACK: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ JOINS LEBRON JAMES, JOHN CENA, OTHER ATHLETES IN BENDING THE KNEE TO CHINABottles of Dongpeng Beverage Group's "Bushuila" electrolyte drink featuring French football star Kylian Mbappe on the packaging are displayed at a convenience store in Beijing on October 27, 2026.
Kylian Mbappe was dropped October 27 by two major brands in China after a video circulated online in which the French football star apparently joked about former leader Mao Zedong.(Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP via Getty Images) (Pedro PARDO / AFP via Getty Images)THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, U...