John Cena is apologizing after calling Taiwan a country while selling the most recent “Fast and the Furious” movie, “F9.” The actor {and professional} wrestler posted the apology Tuesday in Mandarin on the popular Chinese social media website Weibo.
“I made one mistake, I must say right now, crucial, I love and respect Chinese people,” Cena said, according to BBC News. “I’m very sorry for my mistake. I’m so sorry, I apologize.”
Cena’s initial remark came throughout an interview with TVBS, a Taiwanese broadcast firm. The 44-year-old stated Taiwan would be the first “country” to see the ninth installment of the “Fast and the Furious” franchise.
His comment sparked outrage on Chinese social media websites as Taiwan’s status remains a heated matter. Beijing considers self-governed Taiwan to be a part of its territory and opposes the concept that its an impartial state, BBC News reported.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949 however Beijing has tried to restrict Taiwan’s worldwide influence and has not dominated out using drive to reclaim the island, according to BBC News.
Cena, who has over 600,000 followers on Weibo, has studied Mandarin for a number of years. In 2017, he admitted that despite his greatest efforts, he still spoke the language like a “third grader.”
Some Weibo customers stated Cena’s apology wasn’t sufficient, whereas others had been extra sympathetic, BBC Information reported. In the meantime, some American lawmakers slammed Cena’s apology. Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called it “pathetic.”
After being delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, “F9” premiered this weekend in international theaters, making over $162 million on the field office, according to Variety. The movie is on track to be one of many yr’s greatest blockbusters.
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