It was in 2021. On June 7, Yann Barthès revealed in his show that three journalists from “Quotidien” had been attacked two days earlier by Francis Lalanne. The singer, who has become a political activist, was then at the “Citizen Universities” lounge in Avignon. As the Covid-19 pandemic swept through France at that time, some of the participants present were opposed to wearing a mask. The one who notably called in a column published in “France Soir” at the “general mobilization of the French people against tyranny” had therefore agreed to answer an interview on the TMC program in this context. But the artist did not appreciate a question that was asked to him about Jean-Marie Bigard.
A complaint filed for “violence with threat” and “use of a weapon”
“What did you think of the images from the Trocadéro two weeks ago of Jean-Marie Bigard calling for the murder of Agnès Buzyn and of this parallel with the yellow star?“, one of the reporters, Paul Larrouturou, asked him. “You won't drag me into what you just said. Jean-Marie Bigard never wished for anyone to die. Learn the Bigard language. My reaction is that I don't like what you just said. I don't like the way you present things. It's called manipulation“, the main interested party then replied. The tone then rose between the two men then Francis Lalanne also attacked the cameraman, Paul Bouffard, who was filming the sequence: “Take out what's in the camera!“, he shouted, while the images became blurry and some of his relatives asked him to stop.
The scene was broadcast in full in “Quotidien”. On the set, Paul Larrouturou, who now works on LCI, explained in more detail to viewers what happened next: “We took the first train back to Paris. We went directly to Cochin hospital. Doctors diagnosed Paul Bouffard with head trauma and post-traumatic tendonitis in his left shoulder. Personally, I sprained my right wrist after taking a blow while trying to intervene.“. Paul Bouffard then filed a complaint for “violence with threat” and “use of a weapon”. Bangumi, the company which produces the show, also made a report to the public prosecutor to support its journalists.
-However, Francis Lalanne proclaimed his innocence. His lawyer, Me Emmanuel Ludot, announced to AFP that his client “[contestait] formally having hit any journalist whatsoever. This is a crude staging that this show is accustomed to“. The case had been closed without further action. But the songwriter did not wish to stop there. In February 2024, he initiated legal action against Bangumi, claiming 150,000 euros in damages, for having carried out “a real smear campaign” against him, according to information from “L'Informé”. This affair would have resulted in significant financial damage for which he believes that the production must be held responsible.
But the investigation site tells us this Wednesday, January 22, 2025 that justice has not ruled in his favor. The Nanterre commercial court declared itself “[incompétent] in the context of this action, which rather falls under the classification of defamation“. Despite this setback, the interpreter of “We will meet again” decided to appeal this decision and “rules out any desire to pursue defamation action“. “The employees are accused of having lodged an abusive complaint, on instructions from Bangumi“, indicates Emmanuel Ludot to the media. If the commercial court did not respond to Bangumi's request, which asked that the abusive nature of the procedure launched by Francis Lalanne be recognized, it nevertheless sentenced the singer to pay 2,000 euros to the production company for costs incurred to defend themselves.
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