Google issued an apology following widespread criticism for a controversial comment made on its Africa page on X.

The post, intended to encourage interaction, asked followers to share their most memorable football stories, highlighting football as the continent's most popular sport.

Attempting a humorous tone, the post jokingly contrasted this with the suggestion that hide-and-seek with lions is not the common pastime.

"Here's Africa's most common game. No, it's not hide-and-seek with lions (although that sounds exciting). It's football! Share your craziest football stories with us. We're all about that kick it life," the post stated.

However, several users on the social media platform were quick to point out a racist undertone to the post, specifically the attempt to feed into a stereotype about Africa.

"'Google Africa' being openly racist is wilder than wild," @_FarouqOlami commented.

"What's with this stereotype of a whole continent, @googleafrica? Africa is diverse with rich cultures and modern cities. Why couldn't you celebrate the sport without the 'hide-and-seek with lions' reference?" another user, @Uchedible, posted.

In response to the backlash, Google removed the post and issued an apology, clarifying that it was intended to be humorous.

"We sincerely apologize for our tweet today. Our intent was humor, but we missed the mark and offended many. We will strive to do better," the company said.