Controversy Ignites Over Alleged Racist Treatment During Pierre Garnier’s Live Performance

Controversy Erupts on French Talk Show Over Alleged Racist Treatment of Gospel Singers

The recent live performance by Pierre Garnier, winner of 'Star Academy,' on the TMC show 'Quotidien' has sparked a heated controversy. During Garnier's rendition of his new song 'Nous on sais,' gospel singers accompanying him reported mistreatment by the show's production team, citing racism as the underlying issue. The accusation stems from the alleged poor treatment of black singers during the broadcast.

Accusations and Apologies

Singers and their entourages took to social media to express their outrage, stating that the black gospel singers were segregated into a 'cold and windowless' room for hours, only released to perform briefly. In contrast, it was claimed that white singers stayed on the set. Bangumi, the production company behind 'Quotidien,' has apologized but denied accusations of 'apartheid.' They insisted that the segregation was not racially motivated but rather a result of logistical issues.

The testimonies of mistreatment included having to wait with minimal provisions and feeling like 'unwanted' participants. The production initially arranged for singers based on security requirements and space constraints rather than racial lines. However, they admitted to a 'lack of communication' between various parties involved, including the production team, record company, and public management company.

Production's Defense and Admission of Fault

Bangumi defended their actions, stating that the dressing room used lacked windows because it was located in a basement and was the standard space provided to musical guests. They argued that bracelets were distributed to manage backstage movements efficiently and not to segregate individuals based on race. Despite these explanations, Bangumi acknowledged the singers' grievances and apologized directly to Diamond Gospel members. They promised to identify and rectify internal communication failures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The performance, which aimed to enhance Pierre Garnier's song with the addition of a live gospel choir, was well-received on screen. However, the logistics of accommodating over a hundred additional performers led to unintended consequences. Bangumi has emphasized the importance of clear communication in such setups, committing to improving their approach to prevent any form of perceived discrimination.