Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla said she is working to shed a colonial-era mindset after posting racist comments about footballer Kylian Mbappé [1].
The incident highlights the tension between traditional colonial attitudes and modern human rights standards within the Paraguayan government. As a high-ranking official, Amarilla's public rhetoric regarding race and nationality has drawn international scrutiny.
On July 8, 2026 [1], Amarilla used the social platform X to target the French player with a racist diatribe. In the posts, she described Mbappé as a "colonized Cameroonian who is desperately trying to pass himself off as French" [2]. She further suggested that Paraguayan players should have slapped the athlete following a match [3].
Following a wave of criticism, Amarilla addressed her remarks. She said she is "deconstructing" herself, referring to the process of abandoning the old mentalities that informed her comments [3]. The senator said her previous views stemmed from an era where certain racial slurs were common [2].
Despite the apology and the claim of personal growth, the specific nature of the attacks focused on Mbappé's heritage and his identity as a French citizen. This intersection of race and nationality is a frequent point of contention in European and South American sports discourse.
Amarilla's transition from aggressive social media posts to a public statement of "deconstruction" comes as the international community continues to pressure political leaders to denounce racism explicitly. The senator's admission suggests a recognition that her previous public expressions were incompatible with her current office [1].
“"Estoy deconstruyéndome"”
This incident underscores the persistent influence of colonial-era social hierarchies in Latin American political circles. By framing her racism as a product of her 'era' and claiming to be in a process of 'deconstruction,' Amarilla attempts to pivot from a perpetrator of hate speech to a student of social progress, though the severity of the remarks remains a point of significant public contention.
