The host of TPMP was at the center of all debates yesterday. And for good reason, Complément d'Enquête released a special episode: Cyril Hanouna, the new godfather of French television. This Thursday, November 30th at 11pm, 3.03 million people tuned in to their TV screens, according to the figures from Médiamétrie. But was it really worth it?
In total, 30 direct collaborators of Cyril Hanouna (current or former) were interviewed, most of them under anonymity. The investigation, conducted by journalist Virginie Vilar and her entire team and presented by Tristan Waleckx, finally shows just how difficult it is to investigate this media monster who (almost) succeeds at everything. Has the king of television lost his crown? No. But we still learn some interesting things about the character.
1. Hanouna is a "cult leader".
It's simple: no one criticizes him, no one threatens him... at the risk of losing big. During the investigation, Cyril Hanouna's close associates, like his former boss Arnaud Lagardère or his friend Valérie Bénaïm, who is also a panelist on TPMP, were questioned. They admire him, support him no matter what, regardless of the charges. The king of television has his followers and even gossip magazines like Voici don't bother talking about him (after all, it belongs to Prisma Média, which belongs to Bolloré...). 2. Everything is fake When you say "guru," it means complete control over what is said on the set. The heated debates on TPMP may seem natural, but the investigation reveals that often, the panelists are briefed by the host before going on air. Complément d'Enquête particularly cites the famous episode with Louis Boyard. The day after the altercation with the deputy...é, "Baba" gave a good scolding to his teams to defend him. In the end, did we expect anything other than fake on TV?Le monteur quand il a enchaîner black face, micro penis, agression sexuelles et verre de pipi #ComplementDenquete pic.twitter.com/rEWJMpRTiv
— Naas (@NaasMucho) November 30, 2023
3. He shares fake news
Not only does Hanouna control his chronicles like puppets, but he also promotes pure fake news. False testimonies, invented rumors... All for the buzz and the numbers. The flagship example in the investigation is the episode of TPMP last spring, during the retirement protests, with four masked men wearing police bracelets, presented as agents of Brav-M. But surprise: they weren't. Furthermore, he would have assured them source protection (as required by journalistic standards), but instead, the production director Lionel Stan would have disclosed the four professional police ID cards to the IGPN. Three of them are now at risk of losing their jobs.
4. He's Bolloré's lapdog
No surprise here: Cyril Hanouna is Vincent Bolloré's little prince. The latter owns Canal + and therefore C8, the channel that broadcasts...Touche Pas à Mon Poste. The multi-billionaire is spending 285 million euros to keep Hanouna on the air. The result? The host censors any subject about his good employer that he defends wholeheartedly. And we saw what happened when Louis Boyard dared to mention his name...
Le haïku interdit !!! J’ai une baisse de tension là !!! #ComplementDenquete pic.twitter.com/HK7pjS4wAY
— Colchonito (@talvezdelocura) November 30, 2023
5. He does financial arrangements
Today, Cyril Hanouna is worth 85 million euros. And like any good (wealthy) rich person, he cheats to pay less taxes. 30 to 50% of taxes would be avoided through loopholes. The investigation focuses on the purchase of his yachts (three in six years) and the employment of staff to maintain them, obviously not declared, otherwise it's not funny.
BONUS. Booba speaks out
The end of the show shows an interview between the French rap giant Booba and journalist Tristan Waleckx, in Miami, where the artist resides. In the past, the rapper was a regular on the show and found Hanouna almost likable. Today, he is the enemy of the host and describes him as "arrogant," "aggressive," and "manipulative." At the end of the show, he leaves a messageve; Bolloré: "I would tell him to get rid of Morandini, Pascal Praud, Cyril Hanouna, and I would ask him to restore true journalism and stop all this masquerade." 🎉 Complément d'enquête: Cyril Hanouna, the new godfather of French TV. 📺 🔗 Replay on France TV