Launch of the trial of Cyril Hanouna for his insults launched at LFI deputy Louis Boyard

Two years later, this altercation can legitimately be the subject of regret within the Bolloré group, while the C8 channel is experiencing its final hours. Reminder: on Thursday, November 10, 2022, the France insoumise (LFI) deputy Louis Boyard, guest on the set of the talk show Don’t touch my post (TPMP), is copiously insulted by Cyril Hanouna.

His fault? Having dared to criticize the Breton billionaire – and champion of the French extreme right – Vincent Bolloré, majority shareholder of Vivendi, and therefore owner of the Canal Plus group. In reaction, the parliamentarian (former regular columnist of TPMP) had decided to take the case to court, by filing a complaint against the host. The latter responded by filing a complaint in turn, for defamation, following the words of the elected official, who accused him of “raise racism”. However, it is Cyril Hanouna who must be judged by the courts. His trial opens this Tuesday, November 12 at the Paris criminal court, at 1:30 p.m.

Billionaires who are “impoverishing Africa”

Invited to debate on the reception of 234 migrants picked up by the humanitarian ship Ocean Viking, the deputy for Val-de-Marne denounced Vincent Bolloré during this program as being an eminent member of the billionaires’ club who “impoverish Africa” and who have “participated in deforestation”. Vincent Bolloré, who owns 40% of the shares of the company specializing in palm oil production Socapalm, was then sued in French justice by nearly 150 Cameroonians who denounced the social and environmental practices of this company. The Société Financiere des Rubbers (Socfin), a subsidiary of the Société Camerounaise de Palmeraies (Socapalm), was ordered to pay 140,000 euros to the plaintiffs in September 2023.

Enough to immediately launch an outburst of hatred from the host-producer, one of the businessman’s most virulent watchdogs. “Tocard”, ” jerk “, “jester”, ” shit “… Cyril Hanouna did not hesitate to insult the member of France Insoumise live, to the applause of the public and the encouragement of his columnists. He criticized him in particular for attempting a “coup de brilliance” and ordered him to “boycott the channel”rather than taking advantage of his invitation to attack the Breton billionaire.

“Do you know that you are in the Bolloré group? So what the hell are you doing here? »Cyril Hanouna said to the parliamentarian, before confronting him for around ten minutes. Seized by France Insoumise, the French audiovisual regulator, Arcom, subsequently imposed a fine of 3.5 million euros – a record amount – on C8. Attempts by the channel’s management to cancel this sanction, two appeals filed before the Council of State, were rejected. “It is quite obvious that the host prevented his guest from criticizing the main shareholder of the group”then justified the rapporteur in charge of the file.

7.6 million euros in fines

The virality of this altercation, and the reactions it provoked in the media and political fields, played a role in the non-renewal of the C8 frequency by Arcom. The repeated slip-ups of the talk show hosted by Cyril Hanouna, repeatedly convicted and a privileged platform for the far right, were, in large part, at the origin of the 7.6 million euros in fines imposed by the regulator of French audiovisual sector, i.e. ten sanctions since 2017.

Arcom criticizes C8 for its recurring problems, as “non-respect of private life, honor, the dignity of the human person, the protection of minors, the right to image”listed Arcom advisor Hervé Godechot, during the hearing of the channel’s managers, on Tuesday July 9. Cyril Hanouna’s behavior therefore continues to poison the good facade behavior that the Canal Plus group, the main platform of Vincent Bolloré’s reactionary political project, is trying to maintain. The host risks a fine of up to 12,000 euros.