A Mexican man has publicly apologised after a video showing him making a racist gesture towards a South Korean influencer during a World Cup match circulated widely online. Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes was filmed pulling the corners of his eyes while seated behind content creator Yoon Su-jin, also known as Ino Cat, at a game between South Korea and the Czech Republic last Friday.
Yoon Su-jin, who boasts a substantial online following with 6.6 million subscribers on YouTube and over 2 million on TikTok, posted the clip on Instagram. Her caption highlighted the irony of experiencing racism while travelling across the world for the World Cup. The video quickly garnered significant attention, attracting over 65,000 comments and being shared or reposted more than 120,000 times, with many expressing disgust at the gesture, which is widely considered offensive to East Asians.
The widespread condemnation included numerous comments from individuals identifying as Mexican, who apologised for Bernal's actions and emphasised that he did not represent the broader Mexican population. The public outcry also led to professional consequences for Bernal. According to reports, he was removed from his position as president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ).
Bernal issued a public apology on Sunday, acknowledging the broad circulation of the video and the range of reactions it generated. He stated his sincere regret for the situation, adding that he had taken time to reflect on what happened and understood his responsibility. He emphasised his commitment to treating others with respect in his personal and professional life and pledged to ensure his actions consistently reflect those values, without attempting to justify or debate interpretations of his actions.
This incident underscores the global reach of social media and its capacity to hold individuals accountable for public behaviour, particularly in high-profile international events like the World Cup. It also highlights ongoing issues of racism and cultural insensitivity that can unfortunately surface even in environments intended to celebrate global unity and sporting spirit.