The controversy began this Saturday January 18, 2025 on TF1 during the second semi-final of the Star Academy where Ebony faced Franck for the chance to continue the adventure. The two students delivered a high-flying bonus where each had an HQ where their supporters gathered. Among the young woman’s supporters was a celebrity, the actress Firmine Richard, seen notably in Eight women by François Ozon. “I want to say to Ebony because I know she will win: Ebony, all the West Indies are with you!“, she said at Matthieu Johann’s microphone. Before raising a problem: “I ask the diaspora to vote for you, because the votes from the West Indies are not counted, it seems“. A criticism that she later reiterated with more vehemence: “We must count the votes of the West Indians! This is unacceptable!“.
The channel’s response was not long in coming. La Une published the text of the regulation on its website: “It is above all a technical problem which does not allow us to offer residents of the overseas departments, regions and communities the opportunity to play by telephone and/or SMS as part of the interactive games offered during our programs. In this case, the overseas operators are not the same as in mainland France and the numbering plans and rules are different.“, we could read.
Ultramarines can vote now for the final
However, TF1 has just reversed course this Tuesday, January 21 by announcing in a press release that the inhabitants of Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy will finally be able to vote for the candidate of their choice for the grand final of the Star Academy scheduled for January 25. Marine and Ebony are the last in line to succeed Pierre Garnier. If viewers living overseas want to support their favorite participant, they will need to call 34 80 and dial 1 for Ebony or 2 for Marine. This operation has been possible since this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., specifies the front page. Note that in mainland France, you must dial 71 500 to vote.
