German football giant Borussia Dortmund has apologised after appearing to mock a woman from Wales with a stammer in a video posted on the club’s TikTok account.
The clip featured influencer Jessie Yendle struggling to pronounce a sound as she stammered, before the repetition transitioned into the start of a popular TikTok dance track playing over footage of striker Serhou Guirassy.
Triathlon organiser Ironman posted a similar clip, and Ms Yendle, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said she was “deeply shocked” by the videos.
Borussia Dortmund and Ironman have both apologised, with the club saying they would fly Ms Yendle to a Champions League game.
A spokeswoman for Ms Yendle said: “Jessie has been deeply shocked and hurt to discover the videos shared on social media.
“As someone who has courageously used her platform to raise awareness about stammering, being mocked in such a cruel and public manner is not only personally distressing, but also extremely disappointing.
“Sadly, these posts only highlight just how far we still have to go in building a truly inclusive and respectful society.”
Ironman deleted the video after online criticism of the reel gathered momentum and said it was “truly sorry”, while Borussia Dortmund removed the clip, which was posted in early August, after being contacted by the BBC.
The TikTok had 765,000 views before it was deleted. The eight times German champions and 1997 Champions League winners have 17.3m TikTok followers.
“It was absolutely not our intention to embarrass, insult, or attack anyone,” a spokesperson for the football club said in a statement.
The club said it was “deeply sorry” and wanted to apologise to Ms Yendle in person, inviting her to a UEFA Champions League match of her choice “to convince her on-site that we at Borussia Dortmund are good people”.
