John Cena apologises to China for calling Taiwan country
The “Fast and Furious 9” star posted a video apology in Mandarin on Weibo
Popular actor and professional wrestler John Cena had to apologise to Chinese fans on Tuesday after calling Taiwan a country in a promotional interview.
The "Fast and Furious 9" star posted a video apology in Mandarin on Weibo, a Chinese social network to appeal to his Chinese fans, reports New York Times.
Earlier this month, John Cena had an interview with the Taiwanese news channel TVBS where he told the reporter in Mandarin, Taiwan would be "the first country" that can watch the film.
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Watch John Cena apologizing to China in Mandarin for calling Taiwan a country
"I made a mistake," John Cena said in his apology video. "Now I have to say one thing which is very, very, very important: I love and respect China and Chinese people."
"I'm very sorry for my mistakes. Sorry. Sorry. I'm really sorry. You have to understand that I love and respect China and Chinese people," the actor reiterated.
John Cena has studied Mandarin for years and regularly posts on Weibo. But many of his Chinese fans were not quick to forgive.
"Please say 'Taiwan is part of China' in Chinese. Otherwise, we will not accept your apology," one Weibo user responded in a comment that was liked thousands of times.
The latest instalment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise was originally scheduled to be released in Taiwan on 18 May, three days before China and more than five weeks ahead of its 25 June US debut, but it has been delayed indefinitely due to worsening Covid-19 situation.
Although self-ruled Taiwan has its own democratically elected government and split from China in 1949, Beijing still considers it a renegade province under its own jurisdiction, and it condemns references to the island as its own country as affronts to China's claims of sovereignty.
