A Mexican man has publicly apologized following a racism controversy.
The incident began when YouTuber Inonyang, who has 6.6 million subscribers, posted a video on June 12 after attending the World Cup group stage match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Estadio Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The video shows Inonyang filming the atmosphere in the stands with a selfie camera. As nearby spectators waved at the camera, a man seated behind him made a gesture by placing his fingers at the corners of his eyes and pulling them outward, an act commonly referred to as 'eye-squinting' that mocks Asian features. Inonyang captioned the video, "I came all the way to Mexico to watch the World Cup, am I being too sensitive?"
As the video spread on social media, viewers both domestically and internationally criticized the gesture as "blatant racism." Mexican netizens expressed their shame, with comments like, "As a fellow Mexican, I am embarrassed," and "I apologize on his behalf."
Mexican media outlets Mediotiempo and Infobae reported that the man in the video is Ulysses Fernando Bernal Miramontes, who is identified as the president of the Jalisco Association of Surveyors and Geomatics.
As the controversy escalated, Bernal Miramontes issued an apology on his social media. He stated, "I sincerely regret everything that has occurred due to this situation," adding that he has taken time to reflect on the incident and understands the responsibility he must bear at this moment.
He emphasized, "I do not wish to make excuses or engage in debates over interpretations; I acknowledge that this situation has caused discomfort and I want to sincerely apologize. I have always tried to live my life, both personally and professionally, with respect for others, and I will continue to strive to ensure my actions reflect those values."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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