Victor Wembanyama Faces Criticism For Supporting Protests That Turned Ugly

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is facing criticism following nationwide demonstrations in France that led to clashes, looting, and roughly 1,800 arrests. The backlash intensified after Wembanyama posted an unexplained image of a white rabbit with a pocket watch on X ahead of the October 17 protests. Critics and some commentators interpreted the ambiguous post as backing the unrest, while others believed it simply referenced the upcoming NBA season.

Wembanyama had previously voiced peaceful solidarity with French high school students on October 8, expressing understanding regarding their concerns about systemic inequality, poor school facilities, and teacher shortages. French politicians, including the Nice mayor, condemned celebrities perceived as supporting the unrest, though Wembanyama has not publicly endorsed any of the violent incidents.