In a stunning display of skill and determination, Kevin Paredes emerged as one of the breakout stars of the Olympic football tournament, showcasing his talents with the U.S. men’s team and capturing the attention of fans worldwide.
However, instead of basking in the glory of his team’s quarter-final run in France, Paredes found himself at the center of a storm of racial abuse and death threats in the aftermath of their defeat to Morocco. The hateful messages were fueled by fake news, with fabricated quotes falsely attributed to him disparaging the Moroccan team.
The source of these inflammatory quotes remains elusive, but Instagram posts circulating online featured a version claiming Paredes had said, “I don’t know this Morocco you are talking about, all I know is that we are winning the match tomorrow.”
Feeling the weight of the vitriol directed towards him and his family, the 21-year-old midfielder opened up about the toll it took on his mental health. In an interview with The Athletic, Paredes revealed his shock at the level of hatred he received, including death threats which crossed a line he had never experienced before.
“I’ve seen some things but nothing really touched me like this touched me,” Paredes shared. “It just started getting really personal and I didn’t understand what was happening. What they were saying didn’t come out of my mouth; nor would it ever come out of my mouth.”
Expressing concern over the power of social media to spread falsehoods, Paredes highlighted the devastating impact it can have on individuals’ well-being and state of mind. He felt compelled to address the situation by posting a denial on his Instagram account in a bid to put an end to the unwarranted attacks.
As Paredes geared up to face Morocco, his focus was abruptly disrupted by the influx of hateful messages flooding his phone. Despite bouncing back from an initial defeat to France with convincing victories over New Zealand and Guinea, the promising midfielder found himself embroiled in a controversy that overshadowed his team’s achievements on the pitch.
Now back in training with his club Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga, Paredes is determined to move past the ordeal and spread awareness about the dangers of misinformation in the digital age. His resilience in the face of adversity serves as a testament to his character and determination to overcome the obstacles thrown his way.
