Spain international Dean Huijsen has issued an apology on Real Madrid‘s Weibo account due to sharing content that was deemed offensive to the Asian community, according to a report by EFE.
At just 20 years old, Huijsen reposted an image of an Asian individual, with comments that many Chinese users condemned as racist for referencing the shape of the person’s eyes.
The post has since been removed from the Real Madrid defender’s account.
“I sincerely apologize to my Chinese friends,” a statement released in Chinese on Weibo read.
“I shared content that contained offensive messages without realizing it. It was completely unintentional, and I regret any distress that resulted.”
Weibo is one of the largest social media platforms in China, boasting over 582 million monthly active users.
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Neither Huijsen nor Real Madrid has posted this statement on any of their other social media platforms, leading to criticism from Chinese fans. They are not only questioning the depth of the apology but also calling for a global apology or a video message rather than a written statement.
In 2024, an offensive song towards China was posted by a Real Madrid fan, labeled “insulting to China, vulgar, and of bad taste” by the Chinese Embassy in Spain.
In response, the club condemned the video through diplomatic channels, emphasizing that it did not reflect the club’s values.
Huijsen’s apology coincides with the period when the club is awaiting the conclusion of a UEFA investigation into allegations of racist abuse directed at their player Vinícius Júnior by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni.