Cyril Hanouna Faces Backlash Over Election Promise
In a dramatic turn of events, popular French television host Cyril Hanouna is facing significant backlash after failing to uphold a promise he made on his show, 'Touche pas à mon poste!' on C8. On June 12, Hanouna declared, 'LFI in power, I’m leaving, that’s for sure!' in reference to the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party. Following the victory of the New Popular Front, which includes LFI, in the second round of the legislative elections, Hanouna's promise has come back to haunt him.
Social Media and Public Reactions
Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Place de la République in Paris on the evening of the election results, chanting 'Hanouna, get out!' to remind the host of his pledge. Social media platforms were also abuzz, with 'Hanouna' appearing in over 55,000 posts on X. Notable figures, including LFI deputy Sébastien Delogu and rapper Booba, called out Hanouna for his unfulfilled promise. The parody media outlet Le Gorafi even joked that Hanouna was seeking political asylum in North Korea.
Hanouna attempted to downplay his earlier statement by claiming it was a joke. He responded on X, 'Don't stress, it's just going to be very set. It promises us a crazy return to school. I love you very much and I am here.' Despite his reassurances, the backlash continued, with a petition on Change.org demanding that Hanouna leave French territory, gathering 1,500 signatures by Monday morning.
Continued Controversy
The controversy didn't stop there. A farewell party was organized on Facebook, inviting people to celebrate Hanouna's departure with a fireworks display on the Eiffel Tower. Nearly 900 people confirmed their attendance, and over 6,000 expressed interest. Hanouna's interactions with political figures have only fueled the fire. He responded to LFI deputy Louis Boyard and Sébastien Delogu with dismissive remarks, calling them 'the shame of France.'
Adding to his woes, Hanouna received a formal notice from Arcom at the end of June for his biased coverage of the legislative campaign on Europe 1, a radio station run by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, who also owns C8. The audiovisual regulator criticized Hanouna for giving disproportionate coverage to far-right viewpoints, further tarnishing his reputation.
