Mykhailo Mudryk, a new star for Chelsea in the English Premier League, came under fire for using the N-word in a video clip.
The 22-year-old new £88 million signing used the offensive racist slur in a TikTok video, which has received roughly 214,000 views.
According to sources close to the Ukrainian winger, he was merely attempting to quote words from the 2017 song Freestyle by US rapper Lil Baby.
However, Mykhailo Mudryk, a rookie in the Premier League, has issued a groveling apology for the clip.
Yet, the 22-year-old Ukrainian winger was criticized by supporters and activists for using the phrase “irrespective of context” in the TikTok video.
Mudryk’s agent, Oleksiy Alyokhin, told The Sun: “Mykhailo is deeply sorry for any offence caused by the video posted on his TikTok account last July.”
“Whilst his intention was solely to recite lyrics of a song, Mykhailo regrets his decision and wholeheartedly accepts it was not appropriate. The video has since been removed.”
“The video has since been removed.”
Kick It Out, a prominent football anti-racism organization, slammed: “Kick It Out condemns the use of all racial slurs, including the N-word irrespective of context.”
“The N-word is deeply offensive and the use of this term by high-profile figures in football can only serve to alienate people from the game.”
“It is important that footballers use their significant platform in a positive way, and we’re encouraged to see that Mykhailo Mudryk has acknowledged the hurt caused by his use of this offensive slur.”
This month, Mudryk made the enormously expensive switch from his war-torn home team of Shakhtar Donetsk to the Blues.
He has attracted viral criticism for the 40-second TikTok video from last July in which he appeared alongside a friend in front of an Audi sport car.
The two can be seen singing along to a phrase from Lil Baby’s 2017 song Freestyle while placing their hands on their chests.
The N-word appears 16 times in the entire two minutes and 43 second song.
MYKHAILO MUDRYK – Says n word. pic.twitter.com/vaYy3LjpSA
— ⭐️ (@UTDkalls) January 17, 2023
In the past, black artists have criticized white persons who have used the word.
In 2018, the musician Kendrick Lamar stated: “I’ve been on this earth for 30 years and there’ve been so many things a Caucasian person said I couldn’t do.”
He also stated that: “So if I say this is my word, let me have this one word, please let me have that word.”
Grime artist Yizzy also said: “If you use the word . . . and you’re not of any black heritage, in this modern day world, be prepared to face a backlash.”
Additionally, Chuck D of Public Enemy has criticized the music industry’s “double standards” by urging all musicians to avoid using the N-word in their lyrics.
It is “possibly the most obscene word” in the English language, according to Labour MP David Lammy.
Kick It Out claimed to collaborate closely with athletes and clubs to “educate those involved in the game about the importance of being inclusive”.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mykhailo Petrovych Mudryk, a professional football player from Ukraine, was born on January 5, 2001. He plays as a winger for Chelsea of the Premier League and the Ukrainian national team.
Before transferring to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2016, Mudryk began his career in the Metalist Kharkiv and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk academies.
Two years later, he made his professional debut after receiving loans from Arsenal Kyiv and Desna Chernihiv.
The most expensive Ukrainian footballer of all time and the most expensive player ever recruited from the Ukrainian Premier League, he transferred to English club Chelsea in 2023 for an initial €70 million (£62 million).
Since 2022, Mudryk has represented Ukraine at the senior international level. He had previously earned several youth caps.
