“It’s his right, it’s freedom of expression”

Asked about Charlie Hebdo and the right to blasphemy, Angélique Angarni-Filopon, Miss France 2025, preferred to kick in. Pointed out, she defended herself, citing her “neutrality” imposed by her function.

Miss France 2025 focuses on neutrality. Asked on January 7, the 10th anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, to know whether he was “Charlie” or not and whether we should have the right to blasphemy in France, Angélique Angarni-Filopon preferred to kick in. Despite repeated questions from Sud Radio journalists, Miss France “does not comment”.

A choice commented on by Charlie Hebdo a few days later. The satirical newspaper subsequently published a caricature showing mullahs with “I am Miss France” posters.

“Avoid all misunderstandings and controversies”

Angélique Angarni-Filopon then reacted on Instagram: “Charlie Hebdo touches on profound issues and, of course, freedom of expression is essential in France. I firmly condemn these terrorist acts which are a fundamental attack on our society, in particular the freedom, tolerance and respect.

“In my role as Miss France, I owe myself neutrality on certain subjects to avoid any misunderstanding and controversy. I understand that my non-reaction on such a sensitive subject could have generated so many comments,” continued Miss France 2025.

Concerns for his safety

This Tuesday on the set of Big Mouthswe defend our status and our choice not to answer: “What is complicated is that it is a question on which we cannot take a back seat”, believes Doctor Jérôme Marty, criticizing the journalist's questions : “When he asks her this question, he knows very well that she cannot answer. It's a banana skin that he puts under her feet. No Miss France has ever taken a political position”, recalls the practitioner on RMC and RMC Story.

For the philosopher Jean-Loup Bonnamy, even if Miss France had said she was not Charlie, this would fall under her “freedom of expression”: “She did not want to answer. Even if she had said 'I am not Charlie', it's his right and it's freedom of expression. I'm for some people to be Charlie and others not, it's not an obligation.

But the damage seems done, deplores the president of the Miss France company Frédéric Gilbert: “She was completely taken by surprise by this question and she went into automatic mode as she was asked. This controversy is violent unheard of,” he assured Parisian now saying he is “worried for the safety of Miss France”.