Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has found herself at the centre of another social media storm after claiming her Instagram account had been hacked, only days after her racist remarks about French football star Kylian Mbappé triggered international outrage.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Amarilla told followers that she had lost access to her Instagram account and urged them to ignore any suspicious activity until she regained control.
Instead of sympathy, many social media users responded with sarcasm.
One widely shared reply read:
If they post anything racist, we’ll know you have your Instagram back.
The joke quickly gained traction as users linked the hacking claim to Amarilla’s recent comments about Mbappé, which sparked widespread condemnation around the world.
The controversy began after France knocked Paraguay out of the FIFA World Cup. Amarilla responded by posting racist and xenophobic insults aimed at Mbappé on X.
Mbappé publicly condemned the senator, calling her “a despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of holding public office. He also said her comments did not represent the people of Paraguay.
The fallout quickly spread beyond social media.
The French Football Federation announced plans to file a criminal complaint, French prosecutors opened an investigation, and Paraguay’s government publicly distanced itself from Amarilla’s remarks, saying they did not reflect the country’s values.
Amarilla later apologized before making further critical remarks about Mbappé, keeping the controversy alive.
Her latest claim about losing access to her Instagram account has now generated another wave of online reactions, with many users refusing to separate the hacking announcement from the controversy that has dominated headlines throughout the week.