San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is being accused of supporting violent political protests in his native France by Nice’s mayor, Éric Ciotti.

‘French celebrities like the basketball player Victor Wembanyama, who called for supporting the riots of October 17, bear a historic responsibility,’ Ciotti wrote on X. ‘They must be condemned.’

Ciotti’s post came in response to one from Wembanyama a day earlier that featured Alice in Wonderland’s White Rabbit pointing to a pocket watch. Wembanyama’s cryptic post was taken by many to be a reference to the ongoing riots in France over the rising cost of living and worsening condition of public schools.

Wembanyama discussed the problem with French schools earlier this month by referring to his childhood in Le Chesnay outside of Paris.

‘These are systemic inequalities – problems so deep-rooted that, in fact, I’m glad that high-school students and young people in general are speaking up,’ Wembanyama told reporters. ‘I hear them, ​and I support them, and I hope the people at the very top will ​do the same.’

Tensions in France erupted on Saturday as police arrested nearly 2,000 people across the country following violent clashes between protestors and police. Groups of masked protestors were seen setting fire to public buildings, including Limoges’ 19th-century City Hall, which was engulfed by flames on Saturday, causing its roof to collapse. In total, some 550,000 people are believed to have participated in protests across the country, according to the interior ministry. An estimated 1,500 shops were vandalized.

Victor Wembanyama (left) has been vocal in his support for French protestors, but has yet to comment on the escalating violence that took place on Saturday across the country 

After protests grew increasingly violent in France on Saturday, Nice’s mayor, Éric Ciotti, took aim at Victor Wembanyama over a cryptic social media post he’d made a day earlier 

Wembanyama has not defended the violence that unfolded Saturday across the country but has been unequivocal in his support for student protestors. Asked on October 9 if he would be marching with the students in France if he were there, Wembanyama said he ‘would love to.’

‘I have a lot of interest. I meant it,’ Wembanyama said. ‘I was in that position not so long ago.’

‘I’ve had the chance to escape this system, to escape these problems. But it’s chance, it’s luck. So I want to show my support.’

‘It’s not something that’s completely unfamiliar ​to me. I went to high school in Nanterre, which was already a stronghold of ”blockages” back then,’ he said, referring to student-led school blockades.

A protester waving a French national flag walks past a fire on Saturday in Paris 

A member of a conservative party known as Les Républicains, Ciotti was hardly the only critic of Wembanyama over the issue. Laetitia Ravalet, a member of parliament, instructed Wembanyama to ‘please send the compensation bill this way,’ according to a translated post.

And the criticism hasn’t been limited to his countrymen. Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma responded to the violence on Instagram by writing: ‘Guess this was about pencils and notebooks.’

Wembanyama has also received a lot of encouragement from France’s left, much of which has adopted the 7ft 5in Wembanyama as a close ally to the movement.

‘Wemby spreading awareness of a real life issue,’ one American wrote on X.

‘LET EM KNOW MY ALIEN,’ another added, using Wembanyama’s nickname.