Absent from the 2024 César, Elie Semoun still wanted to participate in the party… in his own way. On Instagram, the comedian, actor and director wanted to take a position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, responding to the diatribes delivered by Kaouther Ben Hania and Arieh Worthalter. The two actors, who each received a César in two different categories, took turns in taking a stand for Palestine. The filmmaker, awarded in the best documentary film category, pointed out the death of “70 journalists targeted and killed in Gaza, in the enclave closed to journalists” : “To say today ‘Stop killing children’ is becoming a radical demand. It’s completely mind-blowing (…) We’re not going to be silent. We’re not going to be intimidated. The massacre must stop.”
Elie Semoun obviously did not appreciate this punchy testimony. On Instagram, the one that we will find in a few weeks at the cinema in a fifth part of the franchise Ducobubaptized Ducobu goes greenin which he will find Émilie Caen and Gérard Jugnot for new ecological adventures, attacked Kaouther Ben Hania without naming her, while reminding us that the victims of Hamas were also Palestinian: “It is right to ask for a ceasefire and cry over the children who are dying, and I join in this request. BUT, who is talking about the hostages? Women raped daily, and who are now pregnant by these monsters ? Who has a word for the hell experienced by these women, these men, and these children? There are always double standards. Think about them too. The world is hostage to Hamas, including Palestine.” he declared.
Elie Semoun victim of violent attacks and threats
Elie Semoun’s risky speech quickly became extremely viral on social networks, and was read nearly two million times in less than eight hours on X. The 60-year-old comedian has been the target since several hours of violent insults and racist attacks, linked to his Moroccan, Algerian and Jewish origins. Many Internet users have rightly called for caution and respect for one’s position: “Calling for the release of the hostages is now a risky bet for our personalities on the small or big screen. The terror has never stopped” lamented one of their number.