Overview
- The Paris prosecutor opened a formal investigation into CNews for possible hate speech after Bally Bagayoko reported racist on-air comments.
- Prosecutors also launched a separate cyberbullying case linked to a spike in posts targeting Bagayoko because of his skin color.
- Bagayoko’s complaint cites panelists who used ape imagery and described politics in terms of primitive tribes during late-March broadcasts.
- CNews told AFP the allegations are baseless and denied that any racist remarks were made.
- The probes follow weeks of racist harassment of elected officials, including a letter that France Unbowed says depicted Black people in dehumanising ways and named deputy speaker Nadege Abomangoli.