French television has a serious presenter problem

"I can't control my strength": a phrase ironically uttered by Guillaume, the skinny nerdy teenager in Nos Jours Heureux, but above all by a 54-year-old man with a fully developed frontal lobe accused of domestic violence against two of his former partners. Yesterday, after months of trial, TV host and real estate agent Stéphane Plaza was sentenced to 12 months of suspended imprisonment for repeated violence against his former partner between 2018 and 2022. Following this verdict, television channel M6, where he was a star through real estate shows like Recherche appartement ou maison, Maison à vendre, and Chasseurs d’appart, rightfully decided to cancel all broadcasts involving the real estate agent. While M6 chose to distance itself from a problematic figure with condemnable actions (and now condemned), other French TV channels continue to spotlight personalities with questionable or even dangerous ideas.

Accusations against Cyril Hanouna, host of Touche pas à mon poste since 2010, have become too numerous to count in recent years. The most recent involves deputy Louis Boyard, publicly insulted by the host during his appearance on TPMP. Before that, Hanouna faced numerous accusations of homophobia: in 2017, for example, during a "TPMP Radio Baba" broadcast (a variant of the TV version), he conducted prank calls targeting gay men through a fake dating site ad. Conversations full of mockery were aired live without the individuals' consent, leading to nearly 50,000 viewer complaints to the CSA and a €3 million fine for the channel it was aired on C8. Unsurprisingly, this did not deter TPMP’s team. Twice, Touche pas à mon poste was reprimanded or sanctioned by the CSA for incidents involving sexual assaults. In autumn 2016, Jean-Michel Maire, a panelist on Hanouna’s show, kissed a young woman’s breast without her consent, live on air, amid the laughter of fellow panelists and audience applause. In response, the French media regulator (CSA), prompted by then-Minister for Women's Rights Laurence Rossignol, issued a formal warning to C8. Just months later, in December 2016, another sexually charged incident occurred: during a segment aired on Jean-Luc Lemoine's show (though recorded off-air), Hanouna took part in a highly inappropriate "game" with Capucine Anav, then a panelist. Blindfolded, she was asked to touch parts of the host’s body to identify them, culminating in her hand being placed on his crotch. The CSA reacted by sanctioning C8 with a two-week advertising suspension, causing financial loss for the network.

Yet, despite these serious issues becoming a recurring pattern with Cyril Hanouna over the years and multiple fines, accusations, and sanctions, the show keeps airing. Fortunately, by the end of this month, C8 will exit the TMT group. However, that doesn’t guarantee the same fate for Hanouna and his program, as the host is reportedly in talks with M6 for a potential show transfer—an ironic twist considering M6’s recent stance following Plaza’s sentencing. Karine Lemarchand, beloved host of L’amour est dans le Pré, has even stated that if Hanouna were to join M6, she wouldn’t hesitate to leave. While Hanouna’s presence stirs discomfort even among industry colleagues, Stéphane Plaza’s situation has shocked many viewers, sparking reactions like "I never would’ve imagined," "That’s not like him," or "He's a nice guy, I don’t believe it." Vincent Bolloré, Jean-Michel Maire, Benjamin Castaldi, Laurent Ruquier: the list of French TV personalities who have been accused, convicted or have at least once publicly made controversial and problematic statements is a long one. This story underscores a deeper issue with French television hosts. Whether it’s the friendly guy whose job is literally to help people find homes or the obnoxious figure delivering a constant stream of inappropriate comments, it’s time to rethink who gets screen time. Networks should either clean house or implement stricter hiring and vetting processes before giving such individuals public platforms.