Kylian Mbappe condemns dictator meme as ‘lack of political and human awareness’

Kylian Mbappe has criticised a viral AI-generated meme that superimposes his face onto the body of a dictator, saying the joke reflects a “lack of political and human awareness.” The Real Madrid and France forward acknowledged that some supporters use the image harmlessly to portray his dominance on the football pitch, but argued that the comparison becomes uncomfortable because of the suffering caused by historical dictators.

Speaking to France Football, Mbappe said he understood the humorous intention but questioned the decision to associate him with people responsible for killing and making millions suffer.

The 27-year-old also addressed his “Mobut” nickname, given to him by France teammate Ousmane Dembele, explaining that he views that particular reference differently because it was simply intended as a joke. According to BBC Sport, Mbappe has urged fans to consider the wider implications of such memes.