Arsenal fan and Bollywood actress Esha Gupta has been slammed online after sharing racist remarks towards Alex Iwobi on Instagram, describing the Nigerian as a 'gorilla'.
Gupta is a well-known Arsenal fan, having been spotted at the Emirates watching games in the past, and was reported to have been dating Hector Bellerin at one stage.
However, after the Gunners' FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Friday night, the 33-year-old posted a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation on Instagram.
The image showed a conversation between herself and Varun_Gupta17, with one of the messages reading: 'Solves our winger issues. I can't see that gorilla faced Iwobi running down the flank again. He's so bad ya.'
She replied: 'Hahahahahaha I honestly dunno why they don't bench him more.'
Varun_Gupta17 added: 'It's like evolution stopped for him. Didn't change from Neanderthal to man.'
Gupta quickly deleted the screenshot from her profile but eagle-eyed fans had managed to screenshot their own version.
After coming under fire on Twitter, she issued an apology. Gupta wrote: 'Guys I'm sorry you thought it was racist. Was bad on my part, being a sports love, Wallah meant it. Sorry guys forgive the stupidity.'
'Well it was my fault. So gotta own up to my s***...sorry. It was us discussing our frustration during the game. Sorry as I didn't realise it was directed towards racism.
'Laughed over spur of the moment, which was the games result guys. Been victim of racism myself before. But this is not something I'm proud of. It was a fault, sorry guys.'
GauravMore
354
I'm from India. believe me Esha Gupta is not a star. she can barely act
kyp8193
189
If she is a Bollywood Star than Aamir khan is writer Salman kahn is driver😅 , shahrukh khan is painter and Amitabh Bachchan is not even born
chidesco1
142
Totally disgraceful. So she thinks she is better than iwobi because she's white and he's black.too bad. Why the thought of a gorilla ever go through her minds?
cieacdkou
117
No matter what, she shouldn't be allowed to enter the stadium for certain span and fined. These are same people who say it's racist even somebody say a single word against them no matter what... Shame she is a celebrity
Cebikltuz
99
unfortunately this is the way she speaks, or the way many speak, only difference is, she got caught, being an indian she has absolutely no clue about racism..
Africa328724
98
I'm black, and honestly I'm not hurt at all and I don't think iwobi should. very small minds see colors of people and not the humanity being the person. in any case she has apologized. I hope she meant it.
fuuainotyz
92
There is no excuse for this types of comments,she is is trying to describe what happened in the field but Iwobi's personality an+ that's disgusting and a pure racist remark."ape transformation".shame on her
McTega
87
I don't even know her, is she a name of a person, animal , place or things. 2ndly d blame shouldn't been on iwobi, d owe team played badly including s substitutes.
taueiopsty
79
I am an Indian and i feel that she should be banned by Arsenal so that she cannot visit the emirates again and she should face more flak for these comments since this really is racism and must be punished.
tazdiruy
41
Being south asian, I want to tell the western world that we south Asians are barely racist specially when it comes to color,, because we have a large number of people who are black or tan,,, though, it has been absorbed in our routine slang language that we use the word like 'kaalay'(black) sarcastically without even thinking and without the intent to hurt racially on color basis. It is wrong but every part of the world has its own culture which is sometimes odd and objectionable to people of other parts. so it happens Moreover, she has issued an apology,,, so i don't think its an issue, stiol to set an example, club should propose a small period ban on her for attending any upcoming matches
12UnitedGuyReborn
13
I'm black, and honestly I'm not hurt at all and I don't think iwobi should. very small minds see colors of people and not the humanity being the person. in any case she has apologized. I hope she meant it.
of course she didn't mean it, she was sorry she got caught not because she was part of the racism what does a thief say after being caught, " I am sorry, I don't know what came over me, it's the devils work, I won't do it again" let them go and present them with another opportunity and they do it all over again without remorse it's in their blood and personality #racists, likes it's in a tiger's DNA to chase it's prey They are the primitive ones to think their skin colour makes them any better F*ck Racist, I have only hate to give them (everyone of them)
thisisanonymous
8
Totally disgraceful. So she thinks she is better than iwobi because she's white and he's black.too bad. Why the thought of a gorilla ever go through her minds?
she's not white Indians are neither white or black