French Far-Right Leader Zemmour Fined €4,000 for Racist Insult Against TV Host

The former Canal+ columnist wins her lawsuit against Éric Zemmour. He was convicted of a 4,000 euro fine for racist insult. He will also have to pay 3,000 euros in damages, as well as 2,000 euros in legal fees. His lawyer Olivier Pardo intends to appeal "in the face of this decision that makes no legal sense." Antoine Vey, Hapsatou Sy’s lawyer, on the other hand, expressed his "great satisfaction."

"First, it very clearly said that the remarks went beyond the acceptable limits of freedom of expression and that they constituted an insult, on the grounds that it was the person’s first name that was targeted, but also on the grounds of the racial nature of the insult." "The court fully agreed with us. Behind the fight carried by Hapsatou Sy, there is probably the recognition of a whole section of the French population," he added.

The former Canal+ columnist, for her part, expressed great pride. "It is a great pride to have held on for all these years and to have been able to convict Éric Zemmour for racist insult," Hapsatou Sy reacted on Twitter. "My first name is my identity, my origins are my strength, and behind me, I hope that many other French people will feel liberated to know that we must be respected for what we are," she added.

During the live recording of Thierry Ardisson’s show Les Terriens du dimanche on C8 in September 2018, the former presidential candidate had described Hapsatou Sy’s first name as an "insult to France." "Your mother was wrong" to give you this first name, he had told the former Canal+ columnist. "And what would you like me to be called?" the columnist had retorted. "Corinne," Éric Zemmour had replied to her.