Investigation Launched Into Racist Remarks Against Mbappé
WHO:
Los Angeles Times - Kylian Mbappé, a French soccer superstar, and Celeste Amarilla, a 61-year-old senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party.
Los Angeles Times - The Paraguayan government and the French Football Federation.
WHAT:
CBC - Celeste Amarilla described Mbappé as a "colonized Cameroonian, trying so hard to pretend to be French," and called him "bitter, new money, arrogant and ugly."
CBC - Amarilla stated that Paraguay's players should have slapped Mbappé after the match.
CBC - Amarilla reportedly posted that instead of mother's milk, Mbappé "sucked on coconuts, and the most educated thing he heard were chimpanzees."
Daily Mail - Amarilla launched another attack on Mbappé, referring to him as a "son of a b."
Audacy - Kylian Mbappé condemned Celeste Amarilla as a “despicable woman” and stated she is “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay's Congress.
Audacy - Amarilla threatened legal action for gender-based violence against Mbappé if he did not retract his comments.
AP - The Paraguayan government stated that Amarilla’s comments are “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.”
AP - France's president, Emmanuel Macron, expressed support for Mbappé, stating that the senator's attack is against everything the country stands for: liberty, equality, and fraternity.
AP - France's sports minister, Marina Ferrari, also voiced support for Mbappé, emphasizing that the senator's remarks target what the captain embodies.
Audacy - Mbappé scored from the penalty spot in the 70th minute of the match against Paraguay.
Audacy - The French Football Federation stated it would refer Amarilla's comments to prosecutors.
Audacy - France will face Morocco in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Thursday.
Los Angeles Times - Paris prosecutors opened an investigation into possible aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence due to racist remarks made by Amarilla about Mbappé.
Los Angeles Times - Mbappé scored the only goal of the World Cup knockout game against Paraguay, resulting in a 1-0 victory for France.
Los Angeles Times - Amarilla deleted her social media posts that included racist remarks about Mbappé.
Los Angeles Times - The French Football Federation described Amarilla’s remarks as “utterly despicable and unacceptable” and “criminal and reprehensible.”
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - The incident occurred during a World Cup knockout game in Philadelphia.
WHEN:
Los Angeles Times - The World Cup knockout game took place on a Saturday.
Los Angeles Times - Amarilla indicated in an open letter to Mbappé on a Monday that she regretted her comments.
WHY:
CBC - Amarilla claimed her remarks were made in anger over what she perceived as Mbappé’s disrespectful behavior toward Paraguayans before, during, and after the game.
Audacy - Amarilla claimed her issue was with Mbappé personally, not with France as a country.
Los Angeles Times - Amarilla stated her remarks were made in anger over what she perceived as Mbappé’s disrespectful behavior toward Paraguayans before, during, and after the game.
Los Angeles Times - Amarilla expressed regret for her comments, acknowledging that she was repeating patterns she detests.
HOW:
CBC - Amarilla threatened to file her own lawsuit against Mbappé, claiming he can't even find Paraguay on a map.
Daily Mail - Angry Paraguay fans burned effigies of Kylian Mbappé and labeled him the "most hated man" in the country.
Audacy - Amarilla threatened legal action against Mbappé for gender-based violence if he did not retract his comments.
Los Angeles Times - The Paris prosecutor’s office launched the probe based on the nature of Amarilla’s comments, which were allegedly made because of Mbappé’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion.
Los Angeles Times - Amarilla threatened to take legal action against Mbappé if he did not retract and apologize for his response to her posts.
Celeste Amarilla has made headlines for her harsh criticism of Kylian Mbappé, describing him in derogatory terms and suggesting that Paraguay's players should have confronted him after their recent match. She expressed her anger over what she viewed as disrespectful behavior from Mbappé toward Paraguayans, even threatening to file a lawsuit against him for his comments. Amarilla's remarks included a series of offensive statements, culminating in her calling him a "son of a b."