Samuel L. Jackson told Black fans not to cheer for Argentina before Spain handed the defending champions a 1-0 extra-time defeat in the World Cup final.
Before kickoff, Jackson reposted an Instagram message accusing Argentina of having a long history of racism and asking his followers to support Spain instead.
“Dear Black People… Please do not cheer or root for Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup,” the post read.
The message appeared alongside an AI-generated image of Jackson’s Django Unchained character, Stephen, wearing Argentina’s blue-and-white jersey.
“If you are a Black person cheering for Argentina, this is what you look like to me,” the post continued. “We hear you loud and clear.”
Jackson, 77, added no separate statement, but the repost quickly drew strong reactions. Some Argentine supporters accused the actor of accepting “anti-Argentina propaganda” and criticized his understanding of the country’s history.
The backlash came as Argentina’s tournament run faced scrutiny over racist behavior attributed to some supporters. FIFA opened an investigation into alleged racist abuse involving streamer IShowSpeed following Argentina’s match against Cape Verde.
Jackson has long discussed his own experiences with racism. In a 2023 Rolling Stone interview, he recalled growing up under segregation and knowing “which white people didn’t want to be bothered with me.”
Spain claimed the championship in New Jersey after scoring the final’s only goal during extra time.