Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has threatened to sue French football star Kylian Mbappe for gender-based violence after Mbappe publicly condemned her for a racist social media post. The controversy erupted following France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup on July 4, 2026, where Mbappe scored the winning penalty. In the aftermath, Amarilla posted a now-deleted message on X targeting Mbappe, writing: "The brute didn't even learn to write... Instead of mother's milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most educated thing he heard were chimpanzees." She also directed a comment at Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill, saying: "You should've shown him the finger, Orlando Gill; I do it in the senate and nothing happens!!!"
Mbappe's response and accusation of racism
On July 6, Mbappe responded on X, calling Amarilla a "despicable woman and unworthy of your position." He accused her of "brazen racism" and stated: "You do not represent Paraguay... Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup." Mbappe added: "I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world."
Amarilla's open letter and legal threat
In an open letter posted on social media, Amarilla demanded an apology from Mbappe, claiming his remarks constitute gender-based violence. She wrote: "My posts were written in the heat of the moment... My mixed-race blood, the beautiful blend of Indigenous and Spanish heritage that runs through my veins, was boiling." She acknowledged her post was humiliating and deleted it, but insisted: "Now I expect you to do the same: withdraw your remarks and apologise to me. This is gender-based violence, plain and simple. It is political violence against a woman who reached her position through the votes of her people." She threatened legal proceedings on grounds of gender-based violence unless Mbappe retracts his comments.
Amarilla's media comments and prison reference
Speaking to media in Paraguay on July 7, Amarilla reiterated her threat and referenced Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho's one-month imprisonment in Paraguay in 2020 on a forged passport charge. She said: "I would say to read my letter, if he can read, and I would tell him to be careful with Paraguayans. Ronaldinho has already been imprisoned here and he shouldn't underestimate me, I can sue him for gender violence and political violence." She denied being racist: "I hate injustice, I hate discrimination. I don't hate the French, I don't hate Africans, I don't have the racist feelings I'm accused of." Amarilla, a senator for Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, claimed she was wronged and had sufficient reason to file a complaint.
