France Pierron Arcom ruling on sexist remarks about Jérémy Doku, Digi Mart USA News (France): On June 19, while presenting L’Équipe de Choc on the channel of her media company, France Pierron commented on a decision by Belgian international Jérémy Doku. She said, “Ça me scandalise particulièrement,” criticizing his choice to temporarily leave his national team to return to Europe and attend the birth of his child.
Her remarks sparked a major controversy on social media, and she was subsequently suspended from the airwaves on a temporary basis. Four months later, the Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, has issued its ruling.
The regulator examined the case at its October 14 meeting and published the content of its decision on Tuesday, November 3. Citing Law No. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, which refers to respect for women’s rights in audiovisual communication, Arcom found that the disputed remarks could convey sexist stereotypes.
Arcom acknowledged that Pierron’s statements had been firmly contradicted by all the commentators present on set. It also noted her after-the-fact apology and the disciplinary measures taken against her by the channel.
However, the regulator found that those measures were a response to reactions triggered when the group itself posted a truncated excerpt of the segment on social media.
Arcom concluded by describing its action with L’Équipe. It wrote to the publisher to raise awareness of the importance of fighting gender stereotypes and urged it to remain vigilant against broadcasting remarks that could convey sexist prejudice.
The ruling drew reactions on X. Former channel commentator Pia Clemens posted a message on Wednesday saying, “Quand l’Arcom s’occupe de France, alors qu’on leur demande de s’occuper de la France.” Several users criticized the regulator as either too lenient or not lenient enough, with one writing that Arcom “réserve ses punitions à certains et reste clément pour d’autres,” while another stated, “La liberté de parole et de la presse n’est pas négociable.”
