the France Inter press release on racism modified twice, and this is not insignificant

MEDIA – A controversy fueled by the National Rally, CNews… and now France Inter? Since Wednesday May 1, the journalist ofFreeze frames Nassira El Moaddem is the target of online threats for being outraged by the strict rules of the French Football Federation (FFF) concerning the ban on the wearing of helmets and tights. Rules recently reminded to clubs in order to combat attacks on secularism on the pitch.

“Country of degenerate racists. There are no other words. Shame “, exclaimed the journalist on her X account on Tuesday April 30. Sensing the opportunity for a buzz, CNews presenter Jean-Marc Morandini questions RN deputy Julien Odoul on his set the next day. The far-right elected official jumped at the opportunity. “ If she’s not happy, leave! », he reacts in reference to the foreign origins of Nassira El Moaddem, although she is French. Incidentally, Julien Odoul asks “ that the president of France Télévisions suspends ” the journalist.

“France Inter throws her under the bus”

While the journalist becomes, as she writes on her X account, “the target of an unprecedented campaign of racist harassment, death threats, calls for rape” powered by several media outlets from Vincent Bolloré’s empire, other Internet users are turning to France Inter (and not France Télévisions as Julien Odoul said by mistake) to demand accountability from the station. Indeed, on her X profile, the journalist mentions the show Fighters journey for which she collaborated on public radio.

The message from the management of France Inter in response to these listeners then sparked an outcry among Nassira El Moaddem’s supporters. “Dear listeners, we have received your messages and we understand them”then writes the channel’s management in a press release published on the mediator’s website which specifies that “Nassira El Moaddem occasionally collaborated on two summer series for France Inter in 2021 and 2022 and is not, to date, an employee of the station or of Radio France”.

“We understand them” : the wording of France Inter, which seems to share the indignation of Julien Odoul and those who participated in the cyberharassment of the journalist, does not go down with the latter. “Proving the extreme right right is digging everyone’s grave. If not today, it will be tomorrow.”reacts Nassira El Moaddem.

“Radio France’s response is deafening cowardice”denounces the president of the environmental group in the Assembly Cyrielle Chatelin. “Instead of defending her, the Macronist management of public radio throws her under the bus”writes LFI MP Danièle Obono.

A press release corrected on the sly

An awkwardness half-heartedly recognized by France Inter, which modified its press release on the sly, as noted by Nassira El Moaddem’s colleagues at Freeze frames this Friday, May 3. “Incredible: the management of France Inter modifies its press release […]
to remove the part of the sentence “we understand””underlines Loris Guémart on his X account.

“I no longer have the words”for her part reacted Nasssira El Moaddem about this correction. “I will not forget the initial words: ‘We understand your reaction’,” she adds, specifying that she has not received “no words of support” of France Inter in the face of the flood of hostile messages received online.

Mid-morning this Friday, May 3, the France Inter press release was modified again, as noted HuffPost. The station always points out that the journalist’s comments do not commit it, but this time adds: “However, we would like to condemn the violent attacks she has suffered in recent hours on social networks. »

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