During the podcast Under Listening by Mike Ward, a moment that was intended to be light quickly took on the appearance of a popular tribunal for Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge.
While Dave Morissette shared a seemingly innocuous anecdote about his time in animation alongside Lemay-Thivierge, comedian Pat Lap seized the opportunity to shoot a well-felt arrow.
“I had the best partner in the world. Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge. He was the one who explained the games”confides Morissette, with a smile on her lips.
The response was not long in coming:
“It must have been a big job”said Pat Lap, triggering general laughter.
The whole room burst into laughter. Morissette, unable to keep his seriousness, took a break, visibly shaken by the general laughter.
Trying to regain his composure, he grabbed his glass of white wine, taking a large gulp to give himself time to breathe.
But before he could even continue, Mike Ward, true to his reputation as a provocateur, added another layer to the joke:
“You were just working with guys who were hanging out in the woods. »
Morissette, unable to hold back her laughter, had to stop to catch her breath, while the entire room was in tears.
The atmosphere was excited, and the name of Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge resonated through the mocking laughter.
You absolutely must see this most hilarious video clip.
A scene which well sums up the persistent unease around Lemay-Thivierge, who has become an easy target since the famous “birch job scandal”.
These bursts of laughter are much more than a simple moment of comedy: they recall a controversy that marked Quebec.
In the midst of a media storm, Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge published a video in which he attempted a dubious play on words between “job” and “birch”.
In this video, the actor found himself in a forest, hugging a birch tree whose bark had a word engraved on it: the infamous “n-word”.
With an uncomfortable smile, he declared:
“Sometimes, life is also about working. Work hard. There’s an expression that sums it up: I… I have a big job. »
The video, intended to be humorous, sparked the scandal of the year. Reactions were strong, particularly from the black community and its allies, who denounced the actor’s insensitivity and ignorance.
Rather than offering a sincere apology, Lemay-Thivierge made his case worse by issuing a statement where he swore on his children’s heads that he meant no harm. This lack of responsibility was even more shocking.
And if, at first, Lemay-Thivierge had proclaimed his innocence by swearing at his children, he had above all chosen not to present a sincere apology to the black community, deeply shocked by this sequence.
Instead of necessary public introspection, he preferred to play the victim card:
“I don’t find it easy to go through all this, but at the same time, I am very aware that there are people who are going through much worse drama than mine”he declared during a public appearance last May.
A speech that left a bitter taste, especially coming from a personality with so much visibility.
In this context, Pierre-Karl Péladeau’s decision to end his collaboration with Lemay-Thivierge appears to be a logical, if not necessary, measure.
Refusing to take responsibility and minimizing the impact of one’s actions is an affront to those who expect public figures to embody values of respect and inclusion. TVA, by putting an end to this association, sent a strong message: no error of this magnitude must go unpunished.
Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, however, had a golden opportunity to redress the situation. Two months after the controversy broke out, a simple apology would have been enough to ease tensions.
But he chose to stick to his guns, adding an extra layer of disappointment to an already explosive situation. A viral video of him walking in the forest, insisting he meant “no harm,” only added fuel to the fire.
By refusing to fully recognize his wrongs, Lemay-Thivierge not only isolated part of his audience, but also demonstrated an inability to question himself.
This lack of foresight, coupled with a clumsy defense, condemned him forever publicly.
The Lemay-Thivierge debacle is a scathing reminder that public figures must pay close attention to their words and actions.
In a world where inclusion and respect are priorities, ignorance or arrogance are no longer tolerated.
Hats off to Pierre-Karl Péladeau and TVA for taking a firm stand.
Lemay-Thivierge’s redemption, if it is still possible, will require sincere introspection and concrete actions to regain lost confidence.
In the meantime, the laughter on Mike Ward’s set resonates like an echo of past mistakes.
And for Lemay-Thivierge, each new public mockery is a reminder that words – and apologies – carry weight.
In this affair, it is so surprising to note that Dave Morissette, known for his big heart and his sensitivity, contributed, despite himself, to pushing Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge even further.
In recounting his experience working with the actor, with no apparent ill intent, Morissette found himself providing a golden opportunity for Mike Ward and Pat Lap to turn Lemay-Thivierge’s name into a veritable punchline.
But could he really ignore that discussing such a subject in the presence of two comedians, and particularly in the scathing environment of Sous Éducation, was a slippery slope?
As the actor tries to rebuild himself after losing his job and seeing his public image collapse, finding himself thrown under the bus by his former colleague has a particularly cruel flavor.
Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge’s descent into hell is endless.
Today he is a tragic figure in Quebec show business. His refusal to fully accept his mistakes, his inability to offer a sincere apology and his clumsy attempts to justify himself have isolated him both from the public and from his former allies.
His name is now synonymous with controversy and unease.
But what makes this situation even more poignant is that he could have chosen a different path. With a little humility and reflection, he could have turned the page on this affair and regained the public’s trust.
Instead, he locked himself into a defensive posture, widening the gap between himself and those who could have supported him even deeper.
And today, even those who share his past path, like Dave Morissette, become unwitting agents of his public downfall.
Cruel ? Yes. Deserved? Maybe. But one thing is certain: Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge will no longer have the luxury of ignoring that in the merciless world of entertainment, every word counts, every gesture is scrutinized, and every error can be fatal.
The lesson is hard, but it is clear: you don’t survive in this industry by playing the victim or turning your back on your responsibilities.
And unfortunately for him, this truth comes far too late.
