Moroccan Outrage Forces Comedian’s Exit from Reality Show Over Past Insults

Moroccans have not forgotten Salva’s insulting remarks about them. "Arabs are always too much with them: their bricks are too greasy, their pastries too sweet, their Moroccan women too much like whores (sic)," the Franco-Congolese comedian had declared in a video dating back nine years. Because of these remarks, many Moroccan internet users have condemned his participation in season 3 of the reality TV show "HMI House" - currently being filmed in Morocco. "What’s this Snapchat show #HMIHouse bringing the worst scum from France to Marrakech? Especially this Salva who mocks children, then insults Morocco and Moroccan women! If you don’t love us, what are you doing in our country? Get out!" challenges Jaf, an internet user on X.

Another internet user calls on the Moroccan people: "I invite all Moroccans, if they spot them in Morocco, to give them a hard time and denounce them by filming them". S. Hnina, another Moroccan internet user, is furious: "You’re going to get out of our country, that’s a promise! We’ll do what’s necessary". On X, Moroccan media specialized in social networks have participated in the boycott campaign to obtain Salva’s departure. In the wake of this, Hachemi tries to cut short the controversy in order to save the filming of his show.

"Salva’s remarks date back nine years now. He’s a really good guy in real life, and I wasn’t aware of anything before inviting him here. To err is human and Salva himself preferred to leave the adventure to redeem himself for his faults rather than participate in the concept. We are all brothers, regardless of origin. Don’t get the wrong fight," he explained to his 13 million Snapchat subscribers, confirming the departure of the culprit from "the adventure". And to ensure: "Principles come before content and entertainment".

Salva personally apologized on the same network. "I wanted to apologize to the Moroccan people. I will stay as a good man in Morocco and do good deeds to be forgiven," he said in a video posted by HMI. Apologies apparently accepted by the number 1 Snapchat influencer in France. He intends to maintain the participation of the Franco-Congolese in the show to "try to be forgiven by the Moroccan people".