Memes can be fun to make. It can be humourous. It can make people famous. However, the opposite is true as well. It can infuriate people when it sends a wrong message that the person is trying to send.
French captain, Kylian Mbappé, has recently been involved in one which he finds outrageous.
Kylian Mbappé didn't fully enjoy the flurry of AI memes depicting him as a dictator on social media during the World Cup. The France star was portrayed in military outfits, sitting on a throne or posing next to Soviet leader Josef Stalin and other controversial leaders.
Kylian Mbappé has admitted he sees the funny side to viral memes billing him as a dictator, although he has called for more thought from those comparing him to some of history’s most controversial figures.
The memes are understood to have originated back in 2024 when Mbappé sued Mohamed Henni, the owner of a kebab shop, over a dish named after the shape of the striker’s head. In response, Henni accused Mbappé of "turning his name into a dictatorship."
Subsequently, many have interpreted the memes as references to Mbappé’s alleged power behind the scenes at both Real Madrid and former employers Paris Saint-Germain.
The France striker, whose 22 all-time World Cup goals overtook Lionel Messi’s record, added, "I know it’s done in a light-hearted way and that it doesn’t go that far, but sometimes it shows a lack of political and human awareness among people."
Kylian Mbappé has criticised a viral meme which superimposes his face on the body of a dictator, saying it shows "a lack of political and human awareness". The Real Madrid and France forward, 27, said he understood there was a "funny side" to the AI-generated meme, but that it downplayed serious issues.
It is seemingly used by some fans on social media to reflect the way Mbappé dominates matches; while others have suggested it refers to his influence at clubs.
Speaking in an interview with France Football, Mbappé said: "There's a funny side to it because you can sense that, for some people, it's good natured."
"Then there's a side that's a bit less funny, because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history. Being compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions upon millions of people miserable... I don't think I've done that in my life. On one hand, I know it's done lightheartedly and doesn't go that far, but it sometimes reveals a lack of political and human awareness among people."
Mbappé also referenced the "Mobut" nickname he was called by France team-mate, Ousmane Dembele, during the 2026 World Cup. That nickname comes from Mobutu Sese Seko, the dictator who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo - formerly Zaire - for three decades.
"Ousmane, that's a different thing. He took that from social media. He's just having a laugh," Mbappé said.
I'm under the belief that memes should be fun and light hearted. It should never be used for political reasons. I agree with Kylian Mbappé's assessment. Some people can take a certain situation out of context.
It's best to do research before making a meme or a similar action to avoid a conflicting stance.