MILAN — Italian rapper Fedez has issued an apology following a controversy over his song lyrics that targeted tennis player Jannik Sinner with a comparison to “Adolf Hitler’s accent.” The controversial lines led to accusations that Fedez incited racial hatred, prompting a formal complaint to prosecutors by a city council member from Bolzano, Sinner’s hometown.
Fedez posted the lyrics on an Instagram story, stating, “Pure-blooded Italian with Adolf Hitler’s accent.” The reference to “pure-blooded Italian” is reminiscent of fascist propaganda from the 1930s, according to Giuseppe Martucci, the city council member who filed the complaint. Martucci deemed the Hitler reference unacceptable and felt compelled to act in defense of the constitution’s founding values, emphasizing that public figures should not normalize language that evokes racism and hate.
During a concert in Milan, Fedez explained his intent: “I wanted to take a paradox and it came off terribly, about athletes who are born and raised in Italy but often are not considered Italian due to the color of their skin and apply it to Italy’s top athlete.” He took responsibility for the misstep, stating, “I wasn’t able to pull it off and all I can do is apologize… If something like this isn’t understood, it’s because of a mistake made by whoever wrote it.”
Jannik Sinner, who has achieved significant success by winning four Grand Slam titles, has become a national hero in Italy. However, he has previously faced underlying sentiments questioning his Italian identity, particularly before his first Grand Slam win when he withdrew from the Davis Cup. Despite these challenges, Sinner was celebrated as a national hero upon his return home after winning the 2024 Australian Open, even meeting with Premier Giorgia Meloni.