Paraguayan senator insults Kylian Mbappé with racist remarks; Macron praises his reaction

French footballer Kylian Mbappé faced racist insults from a Paraguayan senator following a World Cup match, drawing swift condemnation and official apologies. Senator Celeste Amarilla de Boccia directed derogatory remarks at Mbappé on the social platform X, labeling him a "fool" and making offensive comparisons.

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Instead of breast milk, he sucked coconuts, and the most educated thing he ever heard were chimpanzee sounds.

Amarilla de Boccia's comments, which surfaced early Sunday, described Mbappé as a "colonized Cameroonian" who played like a "hard Frenchman." She further insulted him with phrases suggesting he had not learned to write and had made "chimpanzee sounds." These remarks quickly circulated, prompting a damage control effort from Paraguayan politicians.

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You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.

Paraguayan officials, including Congress President Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, Vice President Pedro Alliana, and opposition deputy Johanna Ortega, distanced themselves from Amarilla de Boccia's statements. The Foreign Ministry also issued an official statement to disassociate the government from her remarks, which were widely seen as racist and unbecoming of a public official.

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Because of de Boccia's ignorance and her shameless racism, the world is already forgetting the historic journey and the effort of the Paraguayan players in this World Cup. Instead, it is looking at an incompetent lady who presents the worst possible image of her country.

Kylian Mbappé responded directly to the senator's insults on X, calling her "despicable" and "unworthy of her position." He criticized her "ignorance" and "shameless racism," stating that such individuals should not be allowed to spread hate. Mbappé asserted that her actions overshadowed the Paraguayan players' performance in the World Cup and presented a poor image of her country.

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I will never let people like Celeste Amarilla de Boccia the freedom to spread their hate and racism in the world.