Croissants filled with meat, cheese and other eccentricities are popular in Brazil. A heresy for Paul Cabannes, a French comedian very popular in this country, who ironically takes offense to it in his shows. Tuesday, on the occasion of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, he had a private interview with Emmanuel Macron. And did not miss’question the President of the Republic on this highly sensitive issue…
“Here in Brazil, people eat croissants with ham, bacon, whipped cream, strawberry jam…” For Paul Cabannes, it became a running gag. In Brazil, French croissants filled with sometimes very iconoclastic fillings sell like hotcakes. But for this young Frenchman, expatriated in this country since 2015, it is blasphemy! And he made it one of his favorite jokes in his shows.
Because if his name doesn't mean anything to you, Paul Cabannes is a very well-known comedian on this side of the Atlantic. With his videos in Portuguese, in which he loves to make fun of French and Brazilian particularities, this Parisian is a hit on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. His various accounts have nearly 6.5 million followers, while his shows throughout the country – more than fifty dates were scheduled this year – are sold out everywhere. And each time, the joke about these “croissants with filling”, presented in a barely exaggerated manner as a real heresy in our country, is a hit. To the point that he wanted to question Emmanuel Macron to get his position on this highly sensitive issue.
A very funny video
Spotted by the French embassy in São Paulo, Paul Cabannes had already had the opportunity to approach the head of state during his visit to Brazil in March 2024. President Lula had invited the young influencer at the official meal given in honor of his French counterpart. But the comedian did not have the opportunity to speak with the latter. Knowing that Emmanuel Macron was returning to Rio in November for the G20 summit, he jumped at the opportunity and, with a lot of perseverance, he managed to get into the international meeting!
He even had a private interview with the French President, who received him in an official G20 room, just like the heads of state. The very amusing video of this exchange was published by Paul Cabannes this Wednesday, November 20 on his networks:
“Contraband and trafficking”
In this video, Paul Cabannes questions Emmanuel Macron on the meaning of the Brazilians' welcome, then tells him about a motorcycle accident of which he was a victim and during which he was able to measure the love of the inhabitants for French culture. Obviously, he doesn't fail to ask her “diplomatic question” that has been tormenting him for so long: “I have been defending the idea that croissants should be eaten without filling for nine years. […] What is France's official position? » In a falsely serious tone, the head of state replied: “It is clear, it admits of no exceptions, it is without anything. Because in the butter croissant there is no filling. »
Paul Cabannes is jubilant, then goes even further by asking him to “enjoy the G20” to ban the filled croissant “all over the world”. “We will have difficulty. There is smuggling and trafficking”jokes Emmanuel Macron, while praising artisanal and non-industrial pastries. The exchange still ends with a misstep on the part of the President, when he tries a variation: “He could possibly soak himself in coffee…” One eccentricity too many for the comedian, who gets upset and gets up from his seat huffing.
Read also: On TikTok, this retiree talks about his life in the countryside in Limousin and has millions of views
Special authorization to enter the G20
Since it was posted online, this video has created a buzz in Brazil: in 24 hours, it has been viewed nearly 2 million times and garnered more than 10,000 comments from amused Brazilians, on Instagram alone. Emmanuel Macron even made a comment in Portuguese this Thursday: “I'm sure we'll find a deal for the croissant. »
Asked by the evening edition behind the scenes of this funny exchange, Paul Cabannes explains that he made this request several weeks ago to the French embassy. Which confirmed to him that a meeting would be possible four days before. Residing in São Paulo, he traveled to Rio by bus. “The perimeter of the G20 being hyperprotected, I had to find accreditation at the last minute, it was hard, he says. I then had to obtain special authorization to access the heads of state's perimeter, which is not that of journalists. I succeeded, and when I arrived there by taxi, the assistance called me to tell me: “You have to run, it’s now or never!”
He managed to arrive in time to meet Emmanuel Macron, who devoted three minutes to an interview with him after a bilateral meeting. “I'm not going to lie, I was stressed, but he put me at ease and I had a crazy experience. I'm an ordinary guy who has unusual experiences.”he concludes. For sure, Paul Cabannes will have new things to say in his next sketches on the ham croissant…
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