In episode 3 of the series Worshipsigned Prime Video, viewers are plunged back into one of the most memorable sequences in the history of French reality TV: the swimming pool scene between Loana and Jean-Édouard in Loft Story. While in fiction, we see the character inspired by Alexia Laroche-Joubert, the producer of the show, urgently interrupting the broadcast of these images deemed too daring, reality actually seems somewhat different.
Who really cut the broadcast of Loft Story during the swimming pool scene between Jean-Édouard and Loana?
Alexia Laroche-Joubert herself returned to this significant episode in recent interviews. The producer explains: “What I can assure you is that it took me a long time to understand that there were images passing through a pipe called the internet. I probably lost a little time.” A version of the facts that the former editor-in-chief of the show, Angela Lorente, does not entirely corroborate. The latter remembers very well having urgently called Alexia Laroche-Joubert and Stéphane Courbit, the CEO of Banijay Group (parent company of Loft Story), to warn them of the situation. “A cameraman said to me, 'They're f******.' TPS, with the channel 24 hours a day, on the net, etc.”she says in C the weekly on France 5. Finally, it was she who managed to stop the broadcast, but unfortunately, it was already too late.
“We never made love in this swimming pool”: Jean-Édouard looks back on the cult sequence
Also invited on the set of C The weeklyJean-Édouard returned in detail to this swimming pool scene which has become cult. The former candidate of Loft Story wanted to set things straight: “First of all, we have to put everything back in its place. We've never made love in this swimming pool.” According to him, that evening, there simply happened a few kisses between him and Loana. “As it happens, we're kissing and nothing's happening. Something happened afterwards.”he explained, referring to what happened afterwards in the privacy of the bedroom. Jean-Édouard is still taken aback that these images could have been broadcast, because “We were assured that this type of image would not be broadcast.”
His former roommate Steevy Boulay, also present that evening, affirmed that the reality was much less cynical than what is shown in the series Worship. According to him, he simply left the pool to go to the toilet, leaving Loana and Jean-Édouard alone. “That's false; the series remains fiction. In reality what happened was that I was actually in the swimming pool with Loana and Jean-Édouard… and I simply had to pee. So I got out of the pool”, he clarified.
The swimming pool scene, a key moment in the history of reality TV in France
Despite the years, this scene of Loft Story remains one of the most memorable moments in the history of reality TV in France. She notably contributed to the dazzling success of the show, which has become cult. Nearly 20 years after the events, the protagonists nevertheless return to the truth of what really happened, far from romanticized interpretations.
In 2017, Loana herself returned to this episode in an interview with Public magazine. The ex-candidate then clarified: “We just warmed up in the pool! We made love in the bedroom, we had a blast. I was madly in love with him. He even inspired the lyrics of my song Comme je t 'love.” A version of the facts which corroborates the remarks made by Jean-Édouard.
