Tennis player who posted eye-tearing photo receives criticism for being racist

[아이뉴스24 설래온 기자] Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa is receiving criticism from netizens due to controversy over racial discrimination.

On the 9th (local time), foreign media such as the British Guardian and Independent criticized Paula’s coach, Paul Toledo, for posting a recent photo of Paula tearing out his eyes with chopsticks on social networking services (SNS), saying it was “racist.” reported to be receiving.

Eye tearing is known to be a racist gesture that degrades Asians. In addition, since this photo was posted after Paula lost in the semifinals of the Women’s Professional Tennis (WTA) Tour China Open, which opened in Beijing, China on the 25th of last month, netizens were angry at the thought that Paula had committed racial discrimination.

As criticism intensified, Paula explained, “I wasn’t imitating Asians, I was just playing around with my face and wrinkles. I love Asia and I have many Asian friends.”

However, netizens’ anger did not subside, and Paula eventually apologized through her social media. He said, “I didn’t know that my gesture could be offensive,” and “I take full responsibility, and I will learn more from this mistake.”

Afterwards, Paula withdrew from the WTA Tour Wuhan Open, which opened in Wuhan, China on the 7th, citing gastrointestinal illness. However, some raised suspicions that he may have been absent from the competition due to the aftermath of the racial discrimination controversy.

Meanwhile, this controversy marks the second time that Spanish athletes have been accused of racism in China. Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Spanish Basketball Federation released an advertisement showing players tearing out their eyes with their fingers.