Mbappe's Trans Girlfriend Hoax

Confirmed 50,534

Part of a series on Kylian Mbappé. [View Related Entries]

Alterego @BlancMirna O hetero zoando o Mbappé ao saber que namora uma trans Translated from Portuguese by Google The hetero making fun of Mbappé when he found out he was dating a trans woman Hétero Cristão Conservador Várias amantes Maria da Penha Pega travesti no sigilo Obrigou amante abortar Se divorciou 3 vezes pra casar com mais nova Odara Soares Adi "117 1929

TSⒸ @TrujistaSancho Give Mbappe 100 of the baddest Trans babes the second he touches Paris he deserves it all man 12:40 PM - Dec 18, 2022 9,609 Retweets 1,926 Quote Tweets 98.1K Likes ***

Corn ** @upblissed jus wait til i tell the Qatar officials about Mbappe's girlfriend 3:40 PM - Dec 14, 2022 3,485 Retweets 867 Quote Tweets 78.6K Likes

definitely not cornu @definit92502991 es una experiencia única como chica trans ir a festejar después de los partidos y apagar el cerebro cada vez que escuchas "cometravas como el puto de mbappe" primero soy argentina y después transformer Translated from Spanish by Google It's a unique experience as a trans girl going to party after the games and turning off your brain every time you hear "cometravas como el puto de mbappe" first I'm Argentine and then a transformer 9:27 AM - Dec 14, 2022 1,249 Retweets 320 Quote Tweets 57.5K Likes

Maximiliano Jozami @JozamiM Detesto a Mbappé y le deseaba el mal, pero ponerse de novio con una mujer trans me parece una contribución hermosa a la cultura del fútbol. Translated from Spanish by Google I hate Mbappé and wish him ill, but dating a trans woman seems like a beautiful contribution to football culture. 1:49 PM . Sep 11, 2022 1,351 Retweets 424 Quote Tweets 37K Likes

FUTMAIS Futmais | Menino Fut @futtmais Mbappé está em um relacionamento com Ines Rau, primeira trans capa da Playboy. O jogador francês e Rau foram flagrados por paparazzis a bordo de um iate em frente ao litoral Mediterrâneo da França. @JornalOGlobo | @exame Translated from Portuguese by Google Mbappé is in a relationship with Ines Rau, Playboy's first trans cover woman. The French player and Rau were spotted by paparazzi aboard a yacht off the Mediterranean coast of France. @JornalOGlobo | @exame AMOPARISPAR SPARKORIS DISPARISPARISPA WARISPAT PARIS 7:33 PM - Aug 31, 2022 1,796 Retweets 5,752 Quote Tweets 49.4K Likes

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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).

TodiBlaugrana @todiblaugrana Mbappé en couple avec un Trans qu'est-ce que c'est que ce bordel Translated from French by Google Mbappé in a relationship with a Trans what the hell 3:08 PM - May 27, 2022 317 Retweets 112 Quote Tweets 4,919 Likes

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).

PAN @forumpandlr Kylian Mbappé, estrela do futebol francês, estaria namorando Inês Rau, a primeira mulher trans a posar para a Playboy, segundo mídia. Caso se confirme a relação, o atacante se tornará o primeiro jogador de futebol profissional da história a declarar relação com uma mulher trans. Translated from Portuguese by Google Kylian Mbappé, French football star, would be dating Inês Rau, the first trans woman to pose for Playboy, according to media. If the relationship is confirmed, the striker will become the first professional football player in history to declare a relationship with a trans woman. 2:31 PM - Sep 1, 2022 SART 873 Retweets 1,391 Quote Tweets 39.5K Likes

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