Critics say BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged before the Trappes attack; the channel calls the accusations unfounded
After a racist attack in Trappes on October 23, the town's mayor, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Louis Boyard and unions at RMC BFM said BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged on air. BFMTV called the accusations unfounded and a public smear campaign.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The attack followed protests against the cost of living on October 17 that ended in looting and violence in several cities. Puremédias reports that Zemmour linked the unrest to the great replacement theory on LCI on October 17, and the RMC BFM unions say that on October 18 he spoke of a "racaille arabo-musulmane" on Sonia Mabrouk's BFMTV program, where Éric Ciotti spoke of a "French intifada".
Several BFMTV crews were insulted or confronted while covering rallies in Trappes and Paris on October 24, which the channel's journalists' society and management condemned. In September, La France insoumise boycotted BFMTV's programs over what it called a drift of the channel's editorial line toward the far right, then said its members would return except to Mabrouk's program.
People in this case
Louis BoyardCommented
Jean-Luc MélenchonCommented
Timeline
7 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 17, 2026 to October 25, 2026
October 2026
Zemmour links the October 17 unrest to the great replacement theory on LCI
On the day of protests against the cost of living that ended in looting in several cities, Éric Zemmour, interviewed on LCI, associates the unrest with the great replacement theory. Several groups ask the media regulator Arcom to examine the segment.
[01]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, that BFMTV cancelled an interview with Éric Zemmour planned for October 24, the day after the Trappes attack, as a petition backed by deputy Benjamin Lucas called for it to be dropped. A BFMTV executive says the decision was made after the attack. The report also recounts Zemmour's October 17 remarks on LCI linking the unrest to the great replacement theory.
Ciotti and Zemmour appear on Sonia Mabrouk's BFMTV program
According to the statement later issued by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM, Éric Ciotti speaks of a "French intifada" and Zemmour of a "racaille arabo-musulmane" on Mabrouk's program.
[02]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, on the joint statement of October 25, 2026, by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM. It lists the on-air remarks the unions cite, including Éric Zemmour's reference to a "racaille arabo-musulmane" on Sonia Mabrouk's program on October 18, describes the Trappes and La Verrière attack of October 23, and summarizes BFMTV's response.
Gunman kills one person and wounds five in Trappes and La Verrière
Incident
A 39-year-old man opens fire in Trappes and La Verrière, killing one person and wounding five, including a 12-year-old girl. The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office opens an investigation with a racist aggravating circumstance.
[03]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, on BFMTV reporters being confronted at an October 24 rally in Trappes for the victims of the attack. It quotes the channel's journalists' society and management, Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh's criticism of BFMTV on air on October 23, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's remark to a BFMTV reporter in Paris on October 24.
[02]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, on the joint statement of October 25, 2026, by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM. It lists the on-air remarks the unions cite, including Éric Zemmour's reference to a "racaille arabo-musulmane" on Sonia Mabrouk's program on October 18, describes the Trappes and La Verrière attack of October 23, and summarizes BFMTV's response.
Trappes mayor criticizes BFMTV on air
Reaction
In a live interview on BFMTV, Ali Rabeh says the ideological discourse behind such attacks is also made on television sets, and later shares a clip of the interview on X.
[04]Ali Rabeh
Post on X by Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh, in French, on the evening of the October 23 attack, sharing a clip of his interview on BFMTV that day.
Ali Rabeh post on the responsibility of the media after the Trappes attack · Ali RabehPost on X with video of his BFMTV interview[03]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, on BFMTV reporters being confronted at an October 24 rally in Trappes for the victims of the attack. It quotes the channel's journalists' society and management, Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh's criticism of BFMTV on air on October 23, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's remark to a BFMTV reporter in Paris on October 24.
BFMTV cancels a planned interview with Zemmour
BFMTV drops an interview with Éric Zemmour planned for that evening, after a petition backed by deputy Benjamin Lucas. A channel executive says the decision was made after the Trappes attack.
[01]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, that BFMTV cancelled an interview with Éric Zemmour planned for October 24, the day after the Trappes attack, as a petition backed by deputy Benjamin Lucas called for it to be dropped. A BFMTV executive says the decision was made after the attack. The report also recounts Zemmour's October 17 remarks on LCI linking the unrest to the great replacement theory.
BFMTV reporters confronted at a Trappes rally
Incident
People at a rally for the victims in Trappes chase away a BFMTV crew, shouting that the channel has blood on its hands. The channel's journalists' society and management condemn the incidents in Trappes and Paris.
[03]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, on BFMTV reporters being confronted at an October 24 rally in Trappes for the victims of the attack. It quotes the channel's journalists' society and management, Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh's criticism of BFMTV on air on October 23, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's remark to a BFMTV reporter in Paris on October 24.
RMC BFM unions criticize the channel; BFMTV rejects the accusations
Reaction
The SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM say racism now has a place on the channel's air. BFMTV's management calls the accusations of the previous 48 hours unfounded and a public smear campaign.
[02]Puremédias
Puremédias report, in French, on the joint statement of October 25, 2026, by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM. It lists the on-air remarks the unions cite, including Éric Zemmour's reference to a "racaille arabo-musulmane" on Sonia Mabrouk's program on October 18, describes the Trappes and La Verrière attack of October 23, and summarizes BFMTV's response.
[05]BFMTV
Statement by BFMTV, in French, posted as an image by BFMTV Inside, the channel's corporate account, on October 25, 2026. It calls the accusations of the previous 48 hours against the channel and its journalists unfounded, says the election campaign cannot justify attacking a news outlet, and says the channel reserves the right to take action if such practices recur.
BFMTV statement rejecting accusations against its air and journalists · BFMTVStatement posted as an image on the BFMTV Inside account on X[06]CGT RMC BFM
Post on X by the CGT union section at RMC BFM, in French, sharing an image of the statement it issued with the SNJ union on October 25, 2026, about the channel's on-air treatment of far-right remarks.
CGT RMC BFM post sharing the unions' statement after the Trappes attack · CGT RMC BFMPost on X with an image of the statement[07]Puremédias
Puremédias report written with AFP, in French. It quotes Jean-Luc Mélenchon's October 24 remark to a BFMTV reporter, Louis Boyard's comments on BFMTV on October 25, BFMTV's statement that evening rejecting the accusations, and the statement by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
CGT RMC BFM
In the week after the October 17 protests, racist remarks and false information were broadcast on BFMTV without objection from its management or its presenters, and this racism has direct consequences for society.
What is disputed
BFMTV calls the accusations against its air and journalists unfounded and says it gives all political currents a voice.
Sources (2)
- CGT RMC BFM post sharing the unions' statement after the Trappes attack · CGT RMC BFMPost on X with an image of the statement
Disputed claim
The ideological discourse that leads people to plan attacks against an enemy within is also made on television sets such as BFMTV's.
What is disputed
BFMTV says it will not accept being the target of pressure or being used for political ends.
Sources (2)
- Ali Rabeh post on the responsibility of the media after the Trappes attack · Ali RabehPost on X with video of his BFMTV interview
Disputed claim
BFMTV
The accusations made against BFMTV's air and journalists since the Trappes attack are unfounded and amount to a public smear campaign.
What is disputed
La France insoumise figures, the Trappes mayor and the channel's own unions say it let racist remarks go unchallenged.
Sources (2)
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
5 responses. Newest first.
BFMTVTelevision news channel, in a statement posted by its corporate accountDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The AFP report published by Puremédias says Mélenchon and Boyard had accused the channel of letting racist remarks flourish on its air, notably by inviting Zemmour.
"denounces the unfounded accusations made over the past 48 hours against its air and its journalists, victims of a public smear campaign, notably around Sonia Mabrouk (Translated from French. Original: dénonce les accusations sans fondement proférées depuis 48 heures contre son antenne et ses journalistes, victimes d'une campagne de dénigrement publique notamment autour de Sonia Mabrouk)"
DeniedResponding to: In the week after the October 17 protests, racist remarks and false information were broadcast on BFMTV without objection from its management or its presenters, and this racism has direct consequences for society.
Full statement and sources
In a statement posted on X, BFMTV says it will not accept being the target of pressure or being used for political or destabilizing ends, says the election campaign cannot justify attacking a news outlet, and says it will always give all political currents a voice on its air.
After the statement
The same report says the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM said that Sunday evening that racism now had a place on the channel's air.
BFMTV statement rejecting accusations against its air and journalists · BFMTVStatement posted as an image on the BFMTV Inside account on XWhy this label?
The case concerns whether BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged on air before the Trappes attack, as its critics say. BFMTV calls the accusations against its air and journalists unfounded, which denies the conduct its critics allege.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Louis BoyardLa France insoumise member of the National Assembly for Val-de-MarneBefore this statement
The AFP report published by Puremédias says Boyard spoke two days after a racist attack in the Yvelines that killed one person and wounded five.
"You have politicians who make racist remarks every day, but you also have media that give such an unjust image of working-class neighborhoods (Translated from French. Original: Vous avez des responsables politiques qui tiennent des propos racistes au quotidien, mais vous avez aussi des médias qui donnent une image des quartiers populaires qui est tellement injuste)"
CondemnedResponding to: In the week after the October 17 protests, racist remarks and false information were broadcast on BFMTV without objection from its management or its presenters, and this racism has direct consequences for society.
Full statement and sources
Appearing on BFMTV, Boyard deplores racist remarks made on the channel by Zemmour after the October 17 protests and says that dehumanizing residents of working-class neighborhoods encourages far-right militants to act.
After the statement
BFMTV answered that evening in a statement denouncing unfounded accusations made over 48 hours against its air and its journalists.
Why this label?
The case concerns whether BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged on air before the Trappes attack, as its critics say. Boyard, speaking on the channel, faults it for racist remarks by Zemmour and connects media portrayals of working-class neighborhoods to far-right violence, which condemns the conduct under scrutiny.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
CGT RMC BFMCGT union section at RMC BFM, sharing its joint statement with the SNJ union Before this statement
Puremédias reports that the joint statement followed the October 23 attack in Trappes and La Verrière, in which a man killed one person and wounded five.
"Let us take our responsibilities. Let us stop normalizing far-right ideas in our media. (Translated from French. Original: Prenons nos responsabilités. Arrêtons de banaliser les idées d'extrême droite dans nos médias.)"
CondemnedResponding to: In the week after the October 17 protests, racist remarks and false information were broadcast on BFMTV without objection from its management or its presenters, and this racism has direct consequences for society.
Full statement and sources
The CGT section at RMC BFM shares the statement it issued with the SNJ union, which Puremédias reports says racism now has a place on the channel's air with direct consequences for society, and lists remarks broadcast after the October 17 protests.
After the statement
Puremédias reports that BFMTV's management published a statement the same day denouncing unfounded accusations against its air and journalists.
CGT RMC BFM post sharing the unions' statement after the Trappes attack · CGT RMC BFMPost on X with an image of the statementWhy this label?
The case concerns whether BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged on air before the Trappes attack, as its critics say. The unions at the channel's parent company say far-right ideas have been normalized on its air, which condemns the conduct under scrutiny.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Jean-Luc MélenchonLeader of La France insoumise and its 2027 presidential candidateBefore this statement
The AFP report published by Puremédias says the reporter had asked Mélenchon about responses to the high school students' movement.
"And you, BFM, start calming down on racist remarks of every kind, because this is getting to be too much (Translated from French. Original: Et vous, BFM, commencez à vous calmer sur les remarques racistes de toute sorte, parce que ça commence à bien faire)"
CondemnedResponding to: In the week after the October 17 protests, racist remarks and false information were broadcast on BFMTV without objection from its management or its presenters, and this racism has direct consequences for society.
Full statement and sources
Questioned by a BFMTV reporter during the October 24 march in Paris, Mélenchon cuts the question short and then tells the channel to go do racism on television and leave the marchers alone.
After the statement
Puremédias reports that BFMTV said on October 25 that it would not accept being the target of pressure or being used for political ends.
Why this label?
The case concerns whether BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged on air before the Trappes attack, as its critics say. Mélenchon accuses the channel of racist remarks and tells it to stop, which condemns the conduct under scrutiny.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ali RabehMayor of Trappes Before this statement
Puremédias reports that in a live BFMTV interview on October 23, Rabeh said the ideological discourse that lets people plan attacks is also made on television sets (translation).
"On BFM, I pointed to the immense responsibility of the media. (Translated from French. Original: Sur BFM, j'ai rappelé la responsabilité immense des médias.)"
CondemnedResponding to: The ideological discourse that leads people to plan attacks against an enemy within is also made on television sets such as BFMTV's.
Full statement and sources
Rabeh shares a clip of his BFMTV interview from the day of the attack and says that letting it be said on air that Trappes is Kabul stigmatizes the town and its residents, feeds an imagined crusade and has dramatic consequences.
After the statement
Puremédias reports that Rabeh cited remarks on RMC's Les Grandes Gueules in October 2024, when columnist Jean-Loup Bonnamy joked about a series called Emily in Kaboul set in Trappes.
Ali Rabeh post on the responsibility of the media after the Trappes attack · Ali RabehPost on X with video of his BFMTV interviewWhy this label?
The case concerns whether BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged on air before the Trappes attack, as its critics say. Rabeh holds the channel responsible for letting stigmatizing remarks about Trappes be said on air, remarks he says have dramatic consequences, which condemns the conduct under scrutiny.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(7)
Reporting
BFMTV accusée par LFI de propager des propos "racistes", la chaîne dénonce "une campagne de dénigrement"
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Puremédias report written with AFP, in French. It quotes Jean-Luc Mélenchon's October 24 remark to a BFMTV reporter, Louis Boyard's comments on BFMTV on October 25, BFMTV's statement that evening rejecting the accusations, and the statement by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM.
- Author
- La rédaction avec l'AFP
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
BFMTV statement rejecting accusations against its air and journalists
About this source
Statement by BFMTV, in French, posted as an image by BFMTV Inside, the channel's corporate account, on October 25, 2026. It calls the accusations of the previous 48 hours against the channel and its journalists unfounded, says the election campaign cannot justify attacking a news outlet, and says the channel reserves the right to take action if such practices recur.
- Author
- BFMTV
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
CGT RMC BFM post sharing the unions' statement after the Trappes attack
About this source
Post on X by the CGT union section at RMC BFM, in French, sharing an image of the statement it issued with the SNJ union on October 25, 2026, about the channel's on-air treatment of far-right remarks.
- Author
- CGT RMC BFM
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Ali Rabeh post on the responsibility of the media after the Trappes attack
About this source
Post on X by Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh, in French, on the evening of the October 23 attack, sharing a clip of his interview on BFMTV that day.
- Author
- Ali Rabeh
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Attaque à Trappes : BFMTV déprogramme en urgence Éric Zemmour ce soir après la colère des internautes
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Puremédias report, in French, that BFMTV cancelled an interview with Éric Zemmour planned for October 24, the day after the Trappes attack, as a petition backed by deputy Benjamin Lucas called for it to be dropped. A BFMTV executive says the decision was made after the attack. The report also recounts Zemmour's October 17 remarks on LCI linking the unrest to the great replacement theory.
- Author
- Olivier Cortinovis
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
"Vous avez du sang sur les mains" : Des journalistes de BFMTV pris à partie à Trappes lors du rassemblement pour les victimes de l'attentat terroriste
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Puremédias report, in French, on BFMTV reporters being confronted at an October 24 rally in Trappes for the victims of the attack. It quotes the channel's journalists' society and management, Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh's criticism of BFMTV on air on October 23, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's remark to a BFMTV reporter in Paris on October 24.
- Author
- Bruna Fernandez
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
"Les déclarations nauséabondes et les fausses informations se sont enchaînées" : Les syndicats de RMC-BFM dénoncent le traitement des manifestations sur l'antenne
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Puremédias report, in French, on the joint statement of October 25, 2026, by the SNJ and CGT unions at RMC BFM. It lists the on-air remarks the unions cite, including Éric Zemmour's reference to a "racaille arabo-musulmane" on Sonia Mabrouk's program on October 18, describes the Trappes and La Verrière attack of October 23, and summarizes BFMTV's response.
- Author
- Bruna Fernandez
- Published
- Accessed
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- Critics say BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged before the Trappes attack; the channel calls the accusations unfounded
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The Dispute Index. "Critics say BFMTV let racist remarks go unchallenged before the Trappes attack; the channel calls the accusations unfounded". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/cases/critics-say-bfmtv-let-racist-remarks-go-unchallenged-before-the-trappes-attack-the-channel-calls-the-accusations-unfounded