Wembanyama's Friendly Exchange With Anti-Israel French Mayor Sparks Controversy
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama exchanged supportive messages on X with Balla Gaye-Ndiaye, the pro-Palestinian mayor of Saint-Denis, France. Wembanyama voiced solidarity with French students protesting educational issues, prompting Gaye-Ndiaye to thank him for his visibility. The mayor is known for his strong criticism of Israel and support for Palestinians. This interaction follows Wembanyama's past support for a call to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. The exchange did not involve direct discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Victor Wembanyama exchanged friendly messages on X with French politician Balla Gaye-Ndiaye.
- Gaye-Ndiaye is a prominent pro-Palestinian politician and mayor of Saint-Denis.
- Wembanyama expressed support for French students protesting educational conditions.
- Gaye-Ndiaye has previously accused Israel of genocide and called for the Palestinian flag to fly.
- Wembanyama previously supported a call to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.
- The exchange did not address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict directly.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has drawn attention in France beyond his basketball prowess. Following his expression of support for a violent high school student protest in his home country, Wembanyama exchanged friendly messages on X (formerly Twitter) with Balla Gaye-Ndiaye, the mayor of Saint-Denis and a prominent pro-Palestinian politician in France. The exchange, which garnered interest from French media, occurred after Wembanyama voiced solidarity with the students protesting for better educational conditions, citing issues like teacher shortages and poor infrastructure. "I am happy that high school students and young people in general are making their voices heard. I hear them and support them. I hope the people up there will do the same," Wembanyama stated, referencing his own high school experience. Gaye-Ndiaye, a member of the radical left party "Rebellious France" (LFI), responded with gratitude, "Thank you Victor Wembanyama. Artists, athletes, influencers: your visibility is a responsibility. The youth are standing up, let their voices be heard!" Wembanyama replied in French slang, "My pleasure Balla, you're the best, I swear to you." This interaction has been noted by French news outlets like RTL. Gaye-Ndiaye has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and a harsh critic of Israel, with his victory celebrations including chants of "We are all the children of Gaza." His city council previously passed a resolution opposing legislation that punishes criticism of Israel, accusing Israel of "genocide," and calling for the Palestinian flag to be flown on municipal buildings. This is not the first time Gaye-Ndiaye has been associated with a prominent French athlete; in March, former footballer Lilian Thuram defended him against criticism, attributing it partly to racism. Wembanyama previously liked a post by Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York, calling for the federal government to execute an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged crimes against humanity. While Wembanyama's exchange with Gaye-Ndiaye indicates a friendly relationship, it does not necessarily signify an adoption of the mayor's stances on Israel, as the basketball player did not address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict directly.