Bollywood actress and Arsenal club ambassador Esha Gupta has been slammed on social media for making racist remarks about Nigerian footballer Alexander Iwobi.
A buzz was created after she shared a snapshot of her Whatsapp conversation with a friend on her Instagram story. In the screenshot, Esha’s friend says, “I can’t see that gorilla faced Iwobi running down a flank again,” and says that “evolution stopped for him,” to which the actress replied: “Hahaha… I don’t know why they don’t bench him more.”
Esha Gupta can block everyone calling her out on her racism. @Arsenal time to drop this woman as ambassador. pic.twitter.com/Mrkp0sEI9R
— E=mc2 (@bajankris) January 27, 2019
Fans of the player slammed her for her ignorance, and called her out for being a racist despite having claimed that she herself was a victim of racism in the past. The actress tweeted out an apology saying that she didn’t mean to be racist.
It was us discussing our frustration during the game.sorry as I din realise it directed towards racism.laughed over the spur of the moment, which was the games result guys.been victim of racism myself before. But this is not something m proud of. It was a fault,sorry guys
— Esha Gupta (@eshagupta2811) January 27, 2019
Guys m sorry you thought it was racist. Was bad on my part, being a sports lover. Wallah never meant it. Sorry guys forgive the stupidity ?? #gooner4life
— Esha Gupta (@eshagupta2811) January 27, 2019
The fans of Arsenal, however, are asking the club to “ban her for life.” They have tweeted that her apology wasn’t heartfelt, and pointed out that, “Sorry you thought it was racisit,” wasn’t an apology.
Okay so you're sorry for anyone who thought it was racist? But are you sorry for the racism!??
Laughing off and agreeing to someone who just called a player of the team YOU support gorilla faced and this is how you respond?— Joy (@022Wenger) January 27, 2019
“Sorry you thought it was racist” isn’t an apology. Try again. https://t.co/cmcaAwv042
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) January 27, 2019
@AFTVMedia @TroopzAFC @ArsenalMoh8 Are you guys aware of the Racism from so called “Arsenal Fan and Ambassador” Esha Gupta towards Alex Iwobi. Please look at the screenshot and bring awareness to this. Only right she gets banned from the Arsenal pic.twitter.com/zVxVQwYjeW
— EB-FPL7 (@EB_FPL7) January 27, 2019
Esha Gupta’s insensitivilty has left Aresenal fans furious. The club is yet to comment on the entire episode.
Esha, who was last seen in the Telugu film Vinaya Vidheya Rama, directed by Boyapathi Srinu with Ram Charan in the lead, recently made a special appearance in the song ‘Ek Baar Ek Baar’. Her films under production are Total Dhamaal directed by Indra Kumar, Devil’s Daughter, One Day, Desi Magic, a romantic comedy directed by Mehul Atha, and Hera Pheri 3, directed by Priyadharshan.
