French footballer Kylian Mbappe has hit back at a Paraguayan senator over racist remarks she made over the weekend in connection with Paraguay’s defeat in the World Cup by France.
Celeste Amarilla, a senator from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, had taken several jabs at Mbappe after Paraguay’s 0-1 loss in the round of 16, thanks to the French captain’s winning penalty.
In a series of racist comments posted on X and aimed at the French striker on Saturday, Amarilla mocked his Cameroonian roots, as well as his upbringing, appearance and education.
Following backlash late on Monday, Amarilla posted an open letter in French and Spanish addressing Mbappe, saying she had deleted her posts and that she regretted using “the same insults” she herself has received as a mixed-race person.
However, she also accused Mbappe of “gender-based violence” against her in his response to her insults and has demanded an apology and threatened legal action.
In advance of Saturday’s match, former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert referred to France’s team as “a squad from Africa”.
Early on Monday, Mbappe hit back at the senator’s initial comments in a post on Twitter.
“Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position,” the footballer wrote in a post that included the senator’s photo.
In the comments, hundreds of Mbappe fans also took aim at Amarilla.
Politicians in France spoke out in support of Mbappe and condemned Amarilla’s remarks.
President Emmanuel Macron, currently visiting Syria, backed the footballer’s response to the insults. “One more goal for Kylian Mbappé. This time against racism,” Macron posted on X, adding that the captain had his “full support”.
Credit: aljazeera.com
