The 29-year-old said he felt compelled to speak out after his family was affected, stressing that discrimination should never be accepted regardless of a person’s race or background.
“Whatever your colour is, you don’t have to accept this,” Saint-Maximin told BBC Sport.
Saint-Maximin, who now plays for Charlotte FC, had previously addressed the issue in an Instagram post in January, writing that “hatred and discrimination have no place in our society.”
Although he did not disclose specific details about what happened, the former Newcastle United winger said his children experienced racism at school during his time with Club América.
“I explained to the kids what happened was not normal and they knew already. They were not really happy about that,” he said.
The incident was particularly difficult for Saint-Maximin because it involved his family. However, he acknowledged that racism and discrimination can occur in different parts of the world, including France.
“I was a bit sad about my son, but in every place there is these type of things, even in France, the country where I am from,” he said.
Club América publicly expressed support for Saint-Maximin and his family, while his teammates also showed solidarity by displaying a “No to racism” banner before a match against Necaxa.
Saint-Maximin made it clear that his decision to leave was not a criticism of Club América, its players or the Mexican people.
“It was not the fault of Club América. I have nothing against them, the players or the Mexican people. I love the club. It was one of the best places I’ve been with my family,” he said.
However, the father of four said his children’s wellbeing ultimately influenced the difficult decision to leave.
“When this affects your kids there are not many choices to take. It was a difficult choice for me and my family, but I take my responsibility because I always say I will never accept stuff like this,” he said.
Saint-Maximin said standing against racism was more important to him than protecting his career or potential opportunities.
“It was important to show to people, especially in my situation, that I can lose a lot of things, but I will never accept this,” he said.
After leaving Mexico, Saint-Maximin joined Lens on a short-term deal and helped the club win the French Cup for the first time in its 120-year history before finishing second in Ligue 1.
Despite receiving several offers during the summer, he eventually chose Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC, describing the move as a decision made with his family in mind.
“My family have always followed me to every single place. So this time was more of a family choice,” he said.
At Charlotte FC, Saint-Maximin has reunited with former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith and hopes to build a lasting legacy while helping his teammates improve.
He also remains committed to entertaining supporters and maintaining his creative style of play.
“To see some robot play doesn’t make sense to me,” he said.
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