Kylian Mbappé Condemns Racist Abuse After World Cup Win, Backed by Actor Jeffrey Wright

French striker Kylian Mbappé was targeted with racist abuse following France’s 1‑0 Round‑of‑16 victory over Paraguay at the World Cup. Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla posted derogatory messages, calling Mbappé a “colonised Cameroonian” and questioning his education. She later deleted the posts and offered a partial regret but not a full apology.

Mbappé responded on X, labeling Amarilla a “despicable woman” and rejecting her right to hold public office. He said the comments were “brazen racism” that distracted from Paraguay’s tournament performance.

Actor Jeffrey Wright publicly defended Mbappé, describing the attackers as “lazy‑minded” and emphasizing that racism reflects the abusers, not the victim. Wright also argued that being Black is a political, not biological, term. French President Emmanuel Macron and other officials also voiced support for the player.