The reaction of Fnac was not long in coming.
Arrested by a police union and several far-right elected officials, the chain of stores withdrew from sale one of its board games which offers its participants the opportunity to animate a fictional anti-fascist group.
"Antifa Le jeu", created by the antifascist site "La Horde" and published by Libertalia editions, is no longer available this Monday morning on the store's website.
As of Friday evening, several elected officials from the National Rally had mobilized on social networks to demand the withdrawal of the game from the sales catalog.
Grégoire de Fournas, RN deputy who was expelled for 15 days from the National Assembly, accused of having made racist remarks in the hemicycle, castigated his marketing.
“Case 1:
I block a university;
Box 2:
I beat up a right-wing activist
;
Case 3:
I am attacking an RN meeting
;
Box 4:
I am throwing a Molotov cocktail at the CRS
”, tweeted the elected representative of Gironde on Friday, asking: “Fnac, are you not ashamed?
»
Box 1: "I'm blocking a university"
Box 2: "I'm beating up a right-wing activist"
Box 3: "I'm attacking an RN meeting"
Box 4: "I'm throwing a Molotov cocktail at the CRS"
@Fnac you don't aren't you ashamed?
pic.twitter.com/wlSY6eJFam
— Grégoire de Fournas (@gdefournas) November 26, 2022
Similarly, the RN deputy from the North, Victor Catteau denounced an "absolutely scandalous" game.
“To honor the antifas, these hateful groups who only know violence to attack our democracy and what we hold dearest in our country… Absolutely scandalous!
“, he judged on Twitter.
But how can @Fnac market such a “game”?
Putting the spotlight on antifa, these hateful groups who only know violence to attack our democracy and what we hold dearest in our country…
Absolutely scandalous!
pic.twitter.com/zPfT3ZcfMO
— ☰ Victor Catteau (@VictorCatteau) November 26, 2022
In the process, the Union of Commissioners of the National Police (SCPN) was indignant, in turn challenging the chain of stores.
“This
game
is on sale at Fnac.
A comment to thus highlight the antifas, which break, set fire to and attack in the demonstrations?
“, he commented on Twitter.
This “game” is on sale at Fnac.
@Fnac a comment to thus highlight the antifas, which break, burn and attack in the demonstrations?
#Police #antifa pic.twitter.com/gR6jNXyCKR
— SCPN National Police Commissioners (@ScpnCommissaire) November 26, 2022
Faced with growing pressure from elected officials and the police union, Fnac reacted Sunday evening on the same social network, ensuring "understanding" that the marketing of the game "could have offended some of [its] audiences".
“We are doing what is necessary so that it will no longer be available in the next few hours,” he added.
“You will not silence us”
The almost immediate withdrawal of the game has aroused the incomprehension, even the anger of certain left-wing organizations, like the collective Action Antifasciste Paris-Banlieue which denounces “censorship”.
“You are selling this
book
that inspired Brenton Tarrant to commit a racist mass shooting in New Zealand, are you going to censor it too?
“, he challenged, citing “The Great Replacement” by Renaud Camus.
Hello @Fnac you are selling this "book" which inspired Brenton Tarrant to commit a racist mass shooting in New Zealand, are you also going to censor it?
https://t.co/8RLM3rgg6U pic.twitter.com/AGkxJZfOjm
– Action Antifasciste Paris-Banlieue (@AFA_Paris75) November 27, 2022
Finally, Libertalia editions also commented on Fnac's action.
"Based on false allegations from the far right and then from the forces of repression, Fnac has just withdrawn from sale
Antifa le jeu
, the training tool designed by La Horde and Libertalia", adding "You don't won't shut up!
".