Canal+: fired after a big slip-up, the editor-in-chief of Golf+ “firmly contests” his dismissal

Last Thursday, October 10, two consultants from the Golf+ channel shocked people during a live sequence from Guyancourt, while they were commenting on the French Golf Open, the biggest tournament in Europe. After interviewing the mother of French number 1 Matthieu Pavon, Béatrice Pavon-Deler, Fabrice Tarnaud and Patrick Barquez made very inappropriate comments.

Golf+: a conversation that caused a scandal

“Did you tell me you were there when Matthew was conceived? (…) Is his dad Michel Pavon? (…) From the CREPS in Toulouse?” the first asked. “It's important, no one knows that. Maybe even Beatrice doesn't know it. We have very beautiful memories. But people don't know that. It's true that Matthieu Pavon was conceived at CREPS in Toulouse. I don't know where precisely. Maybe Béatrice will be able to talk about it better than me. Or Michel. So“, replied the second. Fabrice Tarnaud then repeated: “You told me room 12“. “The Mimosa room at CREPS de Lespinet in Toulouse, for those who know. (…) You will give Béatrice a kiss for me“, retorted Patrick Barquez. Faced with the indignation of the person concerned and the golf players who decided to boycott Golf+ during the tournament, the two men presented their apologies publicly, and to Béatrice Pavon-Deler.

Canal+ suspends consultants and fires editor-in-chief

But Thierry David, the channel's editor-in-chief for seven years, mismanaged the situation according to Canal+. In the newspaper L'Équipe, he announced that he had been fired for having waited too long – two days – before reporting the incident to his management. It was only on Saturday October 12, when it became aware of the slip-up, that management reacted by suspending the two consultants. Thierry Daviddispute firmly“the reason for his dismissal.”I was wrong but I thought I had it handled. (…) On Thursday evening, I (…) listened to the extract again and I found it out of this world! Even though I know they've been friends with them since they were 14, I asked them to call Bea to apologize. I also presented mine to him, as well as to Matthieu. On Thursday evening, Béatrice sent me a voicemail to say that she had had the two lunatics, that they had apologized and that if they did it on the air, it was ok. I considered it closed“.