Overview
- Radio France’s investigative unit reports that Europe 1 reporter Alexis Delafontaine, present by chance at Paris brasserie Le Zeyer, recorded the private exchange between Thomas Legrand and Laurence Bloch.
- According to the reconstruction, Delafontaine photographed the pair, posted to an internal Europe 1 WhatsApp group, then recorded after his editor Louis de Raguenel instructed him to “enregistre,” sending audio snippets into the chat.
- Europe 1 published excerpts on December 16 and CNews amplified the story, fueling a wider media clash involving outlets linked to Vincent Bolloré.
- Legrand and Bloch filed complaints, the Paris prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation on January 9 for violation of privacy, and police seized the brasserie’s CCTV footage.
- Legrand asks that the full, unedited audio be given to investigators to check alleged manipulation of excerpts, while Europe 1 representatives declined comment and Canal+ France’s Gérald-Brice Viret said the courts will determine legality.