Gone are the days when Canal + did not hesitate to make fun of itself, notably through the Guignols de l'Info.
Today, it is time for "corporate", this esprit de corps of a company where public criticism is no longer tolerated and invariably leads to a layoff, then a dismissal, of those who have dared to leave. rank.
Such is the fate that awaits Stéphane Guy, laid off on December 9 for having provided his support - live on the air - to the comedian Sébastien Thoen, former columnist of the Canal Sports Club (CSC) fired from the channel encrypted for having participated in a parody of
L'Heure des pros
, the program hosted by Pascal Praud on CNews, the group's news channel.
At the time, Stéphane Guy notably quoted Coluche, one of the founders of Canal +: “I want to salute my friend Sébastien Thoen who did not have the exit he would have deserved.
We wish him good luck.
We know that the beautiful spirit of Marie Portolano (the host of the CSC) will ensure continuity in the Canal Sports Club.
There is no doubt about it (..) We must be wary of comedians because sometimes they say things as a joke. "
A mark of support that has therefore not passed at all on the side of the parent company Vivendi, which has decided to dismiss its flagship football commentator after 23 years in the channel.
A decision justified by the management because of its "disloyalty" vis-à-vis its channel and its employer.
What reaction now from Guy's colleagues?
Already, when Thoen was fired, the Société des Journalistes (SDJ) of Canal + had communicated a letter signed by 150 employees of the channel.
“Asked by members of the editorial staff, the management takes this decision.
We, employees of the Canal + sports department, and / or journalists from the Canal + editorial staff, are outraged against this eviction.
The signatories of this press release are committed to freedom of expression, caricature and parody, for all Group employees, within the limits set by law.
We claim the right to exercise our professions without fear of being dismissed, dismissed, worried if what we say, write, displeases our management. ”
Among the signatories, several headliners of the sports service of the chain such as Marie Portolano, Habib Beye, Laurie Delhosthal, Olivier Tallaron or Sidney Govou.
It remains to be seen from now on what position they will adopt after the announcement of the dismissal of Stéphane Guy.
A strike could be an answer.
Or other live support messages, which would lead to an uncontrolled chain for Vivendi executives, visibly more attached to the image of their group than to the freedom of expression of its members.
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