Italian Rapper Fedez Apologizes for Lyrics on Tennis Player Sinner's Accent

Italian rapper Fedez has apologized after facing accusations of inciting racial hatred due to song lyrics that described tennis player Jannik Sinner as speaking with "Adolf Hitler's accent" and referred to him as a "pure-blooded Italian," a phrase linked to 1930s fascist propaganda. The controversial lyrics were shared on Instagram and prompted a formal complaint from Giuseppe Martucci, a city council member from Sinner's native German-speaking province of Alto Adige, who emphasized the need to uphold constitutional values against racism and hate speech. Fedez explained that the song attempted to highlight the paradox of athletes born and raised in Italy who are often questioned about their Italian identity due to their skin color, but he admitted the attempt "came off terribly" and took responsibility for the mistake. Sinner, who has become Italy's most popular athlete by winning four Grand Slam titles and surpassing soccer stars in popularity, has previously faced sentiments questioning his Italian identity. The controversy reflects ongoing social tensions in Italy regarding national identity and the acceptance of multicultural backgrounds in sports. Public figures like Fedez are being called upon to avoid language that could normalize racism or hatred.