Mbappe's Trans Girlfriend Hoax

About

Mbappe's Trans Girlfriend Hoax refers to discussions about French football player Kylian Mbappe and trans playboy model Ines Rau's rumored relationship. Several news outlets reported that the two were a couple in the summer of 2022 after they were supposedly photographed together in Cannes. The association was never confirmed at the time by Mbappe or by Ines. The rumors nonetheless led to a transphobic backlash against Mbappe. Several soccer fans allege that the rumor was started by Italian media after Mbappe turned down the opportunity to play for Real Madrid in favor of Paris Saint-Germain in May 2023.

Origin

On May 21st, 2022, Kylian Mbappe announced his decision to renew his contract with his club Paris Saint-Germain instead of transferring to Real Madrid.^[1] On May 27th, photos of Mbappe on a boat with some friends began to go viral, with a post by @S_Mends gathering over 20,000 likes in nearly seven months (seen below).^[2]

HAHAHHA NON LA VIE DE KYLIAN VRAIMENT !!!! pic.twitter.com/vvUgG2rBu7

— Le Mendz (@S_Mends) May 27, 2022

Fans soon began to discuss the identity of the woman Mbappe is pictured with, with several French internet users disseminating the rumor that the woman is Ines Rau, the first openly trans playboy model. Twitter^[3] user @todiblaugrana posted a tweet that reacted to the information with "what the hell," gathering over 4,000 likes in nearly seven months (seen below).

On May 29th, the story was then picked up by the French tabloid LeGossip.net.^[4] On May 27th, Twitter user @naileaghostin posted a series of images containing supposed evidence that the woman pictured with Mbappe was not Ines Rau, but a different woman by the same name (seen below).^[13] Other users noted that Ines Rau has been dating French model Staiv Gentis since 2015.^[14]

pic.twitter.com/uvvS2RVhDR

— -nai (@naileaghostin) May 27, 2022

Spread

By August 2022, the story had been published in various French, Italian and Spanish tabloids.^[5][6] The story was also published on various social media platforms by news outlets. Twitter^[7] account @futtmais posted the rumor on August 31st, 2022, gathering over 49,000 likes in nearly four months (seen below, left). Twitter^[8] account @forumpandlr posted the story on September 1st, gathering over 39,000 likes in nearly four months (seen below, right).

Mbappe soon became the subject of various memes mocking him. For example, on September 2nd, Twitter^[9] user @ErlingRoIe posted a video with a caption that read, "PSG owners when they find out Mbappe is dating a Trans Woman" The tweet gathered over 50,000 likes in nearly for months (seen below).

PSG owners when they find out Mbappe is dating a Trans Woman pic.twitter.com/rWnFLL94SX

— ⁹ (@ErlingRoIe) September 2, 2022

Other reactions were more sympathetic, with Twitter^[10] user @JozamiM posting a tweet on September 11th, 2022, that translated to, "I hate Mbappé and wish him ill, but dating a trans woman seems like a beautiful contribution to football culture." The tweet gathered over 37,000 likes in nearly four months (seen below).

On December 18th, 2022, Mbappe scored a hat trick against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final. The lead-up to the France vs. Argentina final and the renewed attention on Mbappe during this time led to further discussions of the unconfirmed relationship. On December 14th, Twitter^[11] user @definit92502991 posted a tweet about being an Argentinian trans woman and being mocked about Mbappe. The tweet gathered over 50,000 likes in less than a week (seen below, left). Also on December 14th, Twitter^[12] user @upblissed posted a tweet about Mbappe and anti-LGBTQ laws in Qatar, gathering over 70,000 likes in less than a week (seen below, right).

Various Examples

@futbolgoats Iykyk 😳😳 #futbolgoats #ronaldo #mbappegirlfriend #mbappe #garrincha #garrinchagoat ♬ original sound – Futbolgoats

ashleykeno17</a> 💀💀 <a title="endlessjourney" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/endlessjourney?refer=embed">#EndlessJourney</a> <a title="ashleykeno17" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ashleykeno17?refer=embed">#ashleykeno17</a> <a title="mbappe" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mbappe?refer=embed">#mbappe</a> <a title="france" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/france?refer=embed">#france</a> <a title="football" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/football?refer=embed">#football</a> <a title="relatable" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/relatable?refer=embed">#relatable</a> ib:adibbelel ♬ WHY U SO WEIRD – hexxed

@isrewlprivv #xyzbca #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – evandinner 💫

@kaszakk advanced humor 💀 #messi #wife #ronaldo #girlfriend #mbappe #fyp ♬ dźwięk oryginalny – Rudy🦊

Search Interest

External References