It is no longer a surprise, it is the Marseille rapper Jul who was chosen to light the Olympic flame in Marseille, this Wednesday, May 8. Since then, criticism has been rampant on social networks. The opposing political parties quickly seized on the controversy.
To light the Olympic flame this Wednesday, May 8, it was Jul who was chosen by the City, representing a symbol of Marseille. Hidden under his white hood, last night, the Marseille rapper created a surprise by arriving on the platform set up for the occasion in the Old Port. Rumors circulated about his arrival, but his identity remained secret until the last moment.
Some of his fans were delighted with the surprise. “It’s incredible, it’s the happiest day of my life, I think I’m going to roll on the ground in not too long“, “he held the flame, frankly, he deserves it“, said two spectators present in the Old Port yesterday. “It’s our own Johnny Hallyday“, says a trader from Cours Julien.
On social networks, Internet users also give their opinion concerning the choice of singer and the comments are rather divisive. On one side we can read “he unites young people“, “Jul represents the city of Marseille culturally“.
On the other hand, some explain having been “shocked“, considering that Jul “has nothing to do with sport“.”When it comes to culture, there is better“, wrote another. Several Internet users also reported the words of the Marseille rapper, judging them to be sexist or even problematic, echoing in particular the sound Take out the stolen crossfrom his album In my paranoia.
Spectators expected to see another Marseille icon light the cauldron, Zinédine Zidane. “As someone from the world champion generation in 1998, we should have seen Zizou on the port, it’s Marseille“, wrote an Internet user under one of our publications.
Everyone has their own comment. The political world has also taken up the subject. Asked at the microphone of RMC Sport, Benoit Payan commented on the arrival of the UFO on Wednesday evening: “They are grumpy. There are always people there to comment. You have to leave them alone. The people of Marseille are happy, us too. It was an extraordinary party.“For Amélie Oudéa-Castera, the Minister of Sports, Jul is the “choice of humility”.
A choice that is also justified by Aurore Bergé, Minister responsible for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight, on the CNews set, this Thursday morning: “It’s a choice that corresponds to what the French listen to.”
Gabriel Attal, Prime Minister, also welcomed the singer’s participation, “the J is the S“. A publication quickly commented on by opposing parties. Sébastien Delogu, Nupes-LFI deputy for Bouches-du-Rhône, wrote: “The G is the hess“, referring to Gabriel Attal. The regional councilor RN Paca, Eleonore Bez, referred to Jordan Bardella’s J and announced the European elections”#VivementLe9June“.
But as Jul says: “Wesh team stay cool, I don’t mind [fiche]*, there’s everyone talking on the com but there’s a bad guy carrying [son courage].“
*The comments have been slightly modified.
