Borussia Dortmund apologises for mocking influencer's stammer in viral TikTok

Borussia Dortmund apologised Friday after a TikTok video that appeared to mock influencer Jessie Yendle's stammer drew widespread criticism. The post, which Dortmund deleted after a few hours, featured a clip of striker Serhou Guirassy alongside a moment of Yendle struggling to pronounce a sound as she stammered, then transitioned to a popular dance track. Ironman, the triathlon organizer, posted a similar clip that also drew backlash. The video circulated widely on social media, prompting calls for greater sensitivity toward people with speech impediments.

Yendle, a 30-year-old Welsh influencer known online as Mimidarlingbeauty, has used her platform to raise awareness of stammering and has built a following of millions. She told the BBC that the videos were personally distressing and disappointing. "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."

Borussia Dortmund and Ironman have both apologised, and the club has offered to fly Ms Yendle to a Champions League game. The eight-time German champions also said they were "deeply sorry" and wanted "to convince her on-site that we at Borussia Dortmund are good people" by inviting her to a UEFA Champions League match of her choice.

Ms Yendle, known as Mimidarlingbeauty online, has gained millions of views using her platform to educate people on speech impediments. She sets herself challenges such as ordering new items from menus and asking for recommendations. She has started a petition calling for the introduction of a universal symbol to help people with speech impediments. In 2023 she released a book called Let's Talk: A guide to life from the girl with the stammer.

The incident comes as Dortmund, which counts 17.3 million followers on TikTok, faced online scrutiny over its social-media practices. Ironman said it was "truly sorry" after mounting criticism, adding that it should have done proper research before jumping on what it thought was a social media trend. "As an organisation, we care deeply about inclusion and have worked closely with athletes of all abilities," it said, noting it will be more careful when vetting content going forward.

The episode underscores the growing tension around social-media trends in sport and the responsibility of large clubs and organizers to consider the impact on people with speech impediments. Yendle's petition advocates for a universal symbol to support people with stammers, a bid that has gained traction online as other creators push for more inclusive portrayals in sports and media.