"They got me wrapped up so I could close it." But this is too much! Discarded from "Fort Boyard", Francis Lalanne is more angry than ever. And this time, it was against ALP and producer Alexia Laroche-Joubert, whom he still called his "friend" at the end of June. According to our information, he seized the Defender of rights, Jacques Toubon. Reason: discrimination. "I was boycotted because of my commitment to the European elections on a list of yellow vests, in May 2019, denounces the one who embodied since 2016 Narcisse, a troubadour poet who gives formidable tests to candidates. It's disgusting. "
The story goes back to spring 2019. "As I participated in the Europeans, the production feared that the CSA would prohibit the broadcasting of the program," continues Francis Lalanne. But as it was planned for the summer, that is to say after the elections and the counting of speaking time, where was the problem? They still made me come once to tell the viewers that Narcisse was on vacation. At that time, Lalanne then thought it would be in 2020. But the Covid-19 went through there. Before filming resumes in recent weeks, he is informed that he will have to wait another year. What he no longer believes in at all.
"Here we touch my chivalry"
Today, Francis Lalanne is screaming at lies. “Alexia Laroche Joubert first told me that I was a person at risk, as I am 61 years old, he assures me. But Yann Le Gac, who plays Father Fouras, is 65 years old. Then I was told about an insurance problem. Very well, I was ready to have my own insurance, like Vincent Lagaf '. Except that for me, it was strangely not possible. "
Finally, Francis Lalanne thinks he knows the real reason for his non-renewal, which he takes from Mister Boo (also a former character): “It is only because of my commitment to the Yellow Vests! But what ? An artist would no longer have the right to be a citizen? It is an insult to France. I have always fought with the weakest. I am a knight. There, we touch my chivalry. "And he adds:" Francis Lalanne, he's the nicest guy. But if you look for me, you find me! "
The singer therefore called on a lawyer, Me Ludot, to defend his rights: "I have been advised since the beginning of this sad case and the line I am is calculated to the millimeter". Francis Lalanne intends to devote himself fully to a new project "planned for a long time" around Narcisse, of which he claims intellectual property, as well as to the protection and marketing of his rights. A final tackle is addressed to Alexia Laroche-Joubert who, according to him, "showed great imprudence" towards him. "Laugh well, who will laugh last," he concludes.
An "editorial" decision depending on the production
Contacted, Alexia Laroche-Joubert reacted to her latest attacks through the lawyer of ALP, Me Stéphane Hasbanian. He points out that neither age nor involvement with the Yellow Vests were taken into account in the decision to dismiss Francis Lalanne. "It was decided for purely editorial reasons not to maintain the character of Narcisse Lalanne in 2020," says the defender of the production. This comes from the normal life of a program. Fort Boyard has existed for thirty years. To last so long, it has always been necessary to develop it. "
As for the intellectual property of the character of Narcisse Lalanne, the lawyer states that "the rights belong exclusively to ALP in the same way as all other characters in the program" and that the production "will be vigilant with regard to unauthorized recoveries".