Édouard Mendy and Ferland Mendy are furious at the various media that have placed their photos with articles about namesake Benjamin Mendy. The latter was again in the news on Tuesday, as the Manchester City left-back has been charged with two additional rapes. However, various media used photos of Édouard and Ferland Mendy in the accompanying articles.
Benjamin Mendy is suspected of committing six rapes and one sexual assault. The left wing defender has been in pre-trial detention since August. Édouard and Ferland Mendy are understandably angry that photos of them were used in the news about their compatriot on Tuesday. Édouard and Ferland are cousins, but have no connection with the accused Benjamin Mendy.
Thanks Edouard Mendy! Nous sommes en 2021 ???????! STOP????????? Ça prendra du temps mais vous allez finir par nous respecter! Que vous le vouliez ou non ???????! pic.twitter.com/sg52f2MbyB
— Ferland Mendy (@ferland_mendy) Nov 17, 2021
Édouard Mendy aired his heart on his Instagram Stories on Wednesday evening. “It is sad to see that in 2021, in both France and England, black people will still be seen as having no name or recognizable face,” the Chelsea goalkeeper wrote. “These errors seem to be coincidental, but the opposite is true. They are actually very symbolic. It’s not complicated to distinguish two faces, especially if they’re wearing different shirts!”
Upday sincerely apologises for using the incorrect image in a story regarding Benjamin Mendy earlier today. We have rectified the issue and are contacting our image provider about the mislabelled image. Once again, we apologize for any offense caused.
— upday (@updayUK) Nov 16, 2021
Not much later, Ferland Mendy shared a screenshot of his cousin’s Instagram Stories on Twitter. “Thank you, Édouard!” wrote the Real Madrid left-back. “We are living in 2021. Stop, it will take time, but in the end you will respect us. Whether you like it or not.” Various media, including update UK, have apologized for using the wrong photos.