French Actors Face Backlash Over Offensive Video Mocking Moroccan Children

The video was filmed in Marrakech where the Franco-Algerian actors Brahim Bouhlel and Hedi Bouchenafa, and the Franco-Moroccan snapchatter Zbarbooking were last Saturday. Brahim, in voiceover, makes insulting and degrading remarks. "The last person who spoke badly to me in Morocco, I pulled out a wad of dirhams, and I slapped him with it. He was scared, his grandmother," he says, referring to the minors he seems to have encountered who appear to be beggars. He even called them "sons of bitches". He then mentions Moroccan prostitutes to whom he says he pays "100 DH".

The dissemination of this video provoked the anger of many Moroccans. On Twitter, some cried out in outrage. Others condemned this video, which they considered degrading and insulting. In the wake of this, the @2MInteractive show that was supposed to host Brahim Bouhlel was canceled. "Adidas firmly opposes all forms of intolerance, discrimination and sexism. We are committed to making sport a space where everyone is fully accepted. Recalling that no contract binds the brand to Brahim Bouhlel. Adidas undertakes to reconsider its collaboration with him," the brand reacted.

On the same social network, Mourad Elajouti, president of the Moroccan Lawyers Club, strongly condemned "the hateful, abject and racist remarks made against Moroccan children by these pseudo-comedians/influencers". He said the Marrakech prosecutor had given instructions to open a judicial investigation against the two Franco-Algerian actors and the Franco-Moroccan snapchatter.

Since then, the controversy has been raging. To put an end to it, the three celebrities have apologized profusely. "We made a joke by giving money to the little ones. I’m really sorry if I disrespected you [...] I was received like a king in Morocco. I did my best. I’m not one of those people who do weird stuff. I apologize to those I may have hurt," Hedi Bouchenafa said in a voice message.

In turn, Zbarbooking claims he had no intention of hurting his compatriots. "I know that the words and actions that appear in this video may be at odds with the person I am, being Moroccan myself. I love my people and the traditions of my country," he said. "I did not intend to harm or tarnish the image of the kingdom, its inhabitants or its children. If my video was clumsy and hurt the Moroccan people, I express my sincere apologies," Brahim Bouhlel will also say, claiming to have wanted to "make people laugh and not hurt anyone’s feelings". It’s more than failed!