Raï Singer Faudel Reveals Career Fallout After Backing Sarkozy in 2007 Election

Before 2007, Faudel was a successful singer. But supporting Nicolas Sarkozy cost him a descent into hell: death threats, assault on his son, racist insults and depression. The singer confides that the threats were such that he "had to leave France". At 44, the singer admits to having many regrets and talks about the long road to rebuilding himself, reports Gala.

"I was very bad, I had threats, anonymous letters, I lost everything," he explained. "My son was assaulted several times because of that." To "survive" and "get his head out of the water," as he puts it, he had to leave France. "I had only one solution, it was to leave France, I left with my little bag and I went to Morocco," he said.

In Morocco, Faudel went through loneliness and depression. Today, with hindsight, he has understood that he should not have called for a vote for Nicolas Sarkozy, even if at the time he had believed in the promises of the right-wing candidate on the neighborhoods. "I find what he said outrageous," he declared. "I was told why did you support him? and I said to myself but damn what did I do? I understand that it can offend that we saw me with this person. Today, I apologize. I should not have been there because it was not my place."

Today, Faudel says he no longer has any grievances against Sarkozy, but he does not forget the difficulties, the abandonment, the loneliness. He lives with his regrets and tries to rebuild himself.