BFMTV announced the cancellation of an interview with Éric Zemmour, leader of the Reconquête party, which was scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026. The network decided to remove the segment from its programming schedule following significant public outcry regarding his recent remarks. The decision followed an appearance by Éric Zemmour on the French channel LCI, where he referred to "a horde of barbarian Maghrebis and Africans."
During that appearance, Éric Zemmour stated, "No, they are not like me and you! I am only French. I am not Algerian or Moroccan or Tunisian either. And I do not hate France, and I do not commit looting." He further remarked, "The time for appeasement is over. The State must restore order. Repress, judge quickly and punish hard." BFMTV withdrew the broadcast slot after his commentary drew significant criticism.
Public Backlash and Petition
Benjamin Lucas, a French MP, supported an online petition that sought to block the scheduled appearance of Éric Zemmour on BFMTV. The cancellation followed this public backlash and the online petition supported by Benjamin Lucas against the rhetoric employed by the Reconquête leader. Participants in the campaign argued that the rhetoric utilized by Éric Zemmour was inflammatory and required a response from media organizations.
Antoine Léaument, also a French MP, escalated the situation by referring the comments made by Éric Zemmour to the public prosecutor. He alleged that the statements constituted an incitement to hatred. Addressing the content of the interview, Antoine Léaument stated, "Shame on Éric Zemmour who makes civil war statements on LCI. He incites hatred against people perceived as Maghrebi. His goal: to trigger racist violence as his friends had succeeded in doing in the United Kingdom. Violence is Zemmour."
These events occurred against a backdrop of domestic instability in France. Since 17 October 2026, the country has experienced widespread protests regarding the cost of living. France has been experiencing these widespread protests against the cost of living since 17 October 2026, which have included incidents of violence and looting. Demonstrations held across various cities have included recorded incidents of violence and looting. Officials and public figures have expressed concern over the potential for civil unrest to increase as these protests continue. The decision by BFMTV to withdraw the broadcast slot followed this convergence of public outcry and the legal actions taken by Antoine Léaument. The network officially confirmed the cancellation of the Saturday, October 24, 2026, engagement, finalizing its departure from the planned schedule.
