"French celebrities like basketball player Victor Wembanyama, who called for support for the riots on October 17, bear a historical responsibility. They must be condemned," Ciotti wrote in a post on X.
Wembanyama, who lives in San Antonio, said at a press conference earlier in October that he supported the protesters.
“I hear them and support them, and I hope those at the top will do the same,” he said.
This weekend, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France. In many places, protests degenerated into violent clashes, widespread vandalism and looting of shops.
The protests, which have been going on for a few weeks and have sometimes led to clashes between police and demonstrators, were driven by dissatisfaction with the high cost of living, underfunded schools and the current government.