The influencer, specializing in culinary discoveries, would have promoted certain restaurants without mentioning it on his social networks.
One year after the promulgation of the law governing commercial influence, the General Directorate for the Repression of Fraud (DGCRF) continues to identify content creators with bad practices. This Monday, culinary influencer Alexis Thiebaut, better known as “The Paris of Alexis”, was singled out by the authority for deceptive commercial practices. Followed by 433,000 subscribers on Instagram and 135,000 on TikTok, the young man shows on his accounts the addresses where to taste eggs mayonnaise and huge pancakes, in the different districts of the capital. Sometimes also in other cities in France and abroad.
But according to fraud enforcement, Alexis Thiebaut would have collaborated with some of the restaurants he promotes on his account. And this, without clearly mentioning it to his subscribers and on the publications in question. “In 2023, as part of partnerships with various commercial catering establishments, (Alexis Thiebaut editor’s note) ensured the promotion of these in particular via publications on his Instagram account failing to indicate that they had a commercial intention”detailed the crackdown on fraud in its press release.
No culinary influencer has, until now, been singled out by the DGCRF. However, it is a very popular category of content. Internet users have the feeling of discovering accessible restaurants without a commercial prism from influencers. Their opinions are seen by younger people as just as relevant as a Michelin guide. Such a warning could direct other similar accounts to be more transparent about their business model. From now on, Alexis Thiebaut himself mentions, in his latest publications, that he collaborates commercially with a restaurant when he goes there.
3500 euros fine
The influencer was ordered to pay a fine of 3,500 euros and to have the press release published on the sites and social networks of the DGCCRF, as well as the Paris police headquarters. A method that has become recurrent for the repression of fraud. For a year, she has been practicing “name and shame” actions. This system consists of displaying the names of influencers pinned for their non-explicit partnerships, the scams they promote or their fraudulent practices.
Well-followed influencers have already paid the price, such as Illan Castronovo, Julien Bert, Simon Castaldi and Poupette Kenza, who was sentenced to a settlement fine of 50,000 euros. Alexis Thiebaut is the fifteenth influencer pinned by the authority for his deceptive commercial practices. Most are then forced to publish, on their social networks, a publication which explains the reasons for the measures taken against them by the DGCCRF.
