The famous comedy duo of the 90s, Dieudonné and Élie Semoun, reunited for the first time in two decades, thanks to a videoconference organized by Guillaume Pley on his YouTube channel, Legend Media and broadcast this Sunday. This significant media event allowed the two former acolytes to speak publicly about their tumultuous relationship.
The Context: A separation marked by differences
In the 1990s, Dieudonné and Élie Semoun formed one of the most popular comedy duos in France. Their separation in 1997, due to political and ideological differences, marked the end of an iconic collaboration. Since then, the two comedians have grown apart, with Dieudonné at the center of numerous anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial controversies.
Last April, Élie Semoun gave an interview to Guillaume Pley, where he returned to his breakup with Dieudonné, expressing criticism against his former partner. In response, Dieudonné requested a right of reply, agreeing to speak on Semoun’s remarks, while discussing his career, his controversies, and his distancing from traditional media.
The virtual confrontation: between barbs and nostalgia
The highlight of this interview was the videoconference confrontation between the two comedians. Dieudonné, wearing an electronic bracelet because of his past convictions, greeted his former accomplice with a surprising exclamation: “Oh sh*t!” The tone of the exchange oscillated between provocation and humor, with Élie Semoun telling Dieudonné: “Have you seen that anti-Semitism is fashionable at the moment? You’re completely off the mark.” To which Dieudonné replied ironically: “Be careful, you too risk being prosecuted by the ICC if you continue.”
Despite the tense exchanges, Dieudonné concluded by calling Elie Semoun a “childhood friend,” expressing a mixture of nostalgia and regret. He reaffirmed his commitment to peace and forgiveness, regretting that their duo, once a symbol of anti-racism, had been broken up. He also expressed his wish to pass on his experience to the new generation of comedians, hoping that this process of reconciliation could ease tensions.
