Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has admitted he was wrong after initially accusing pop singer Chappell Roan of involvement in an incident concerning his stepdaughter, describing the situation as a misunderstanding.
The controversy began during a festival weekend in Brazil when Jorginho alleged that a security guard linked to Roan had approached and frightened his 11-year-old stepdaughter. The claim quickly gained traction online, sparking criticism of the singer.
However, after reviewing additional information, Jorginho retracted the allegation, acknowledging that his earlier statement was based on incomplete details.
According to BBC Sport, he said on Tuesday: “After learning more about what actually happened, I realise I made a mistake. The person involved was not part of Chappell Roan’s team.”
He explained that his initial reaction was driven by concern as a parent. “In the moment, I was trying to protect my family, but I spoke too soon without having all the facts,” he said.
Jorginho also issued a direct apology for the impact of his comments, stating, “I regret what was said and any negativity it brought. This was a misunderstanding, and I want to make that clear.”
Roan had earlier denied any connection to the incident and expressed sympathy, noting she had no knowledge of the encounter at the time.
Calling for calm, Jorginho urged the public to move on. “There’s no need for hate toward anyone. Now that everything is clear, we can put this behind us,” he said.
The incident, which briefly triggered online backlash, has now been resolved, with both parties stressing that it stemmed from mistaken assumptions rather than any deliberate wrongdoing.
