“I discovered the extent of the discomfort of certain employees”, testifies the journalist of “Complément d’investigation” Virginie Vilar

The journalist from the France 2 investigative show reveals to franceinfo behind the scenes of this “grueling” investigation.

Thirty-two collaborators contacted, but few agreed to speak. After several months of investigations, “Complément d’investigation” devotes its issue of Thursday, November 30 to the host Cyril Hanouna, presenter of the show “Touche pas à mon poste” on C8. “For this portrait, it was extremely complicated to make talk about people on camera, says journalist Virginie Vilar. People feared being discovered or found. Before starting my work, I knew that Cyril Hanouna was powerful. But at this point? Absolutely not. I myself suffered pressure and intimidation.” She agreed to reveal behind the scenes of the investigation to franceinfo.

Franceinfo: What is special about investigating Cyril Hanouna?

Virginie Vilar: It’s quite simply the hardest investigation I’ve ever had to do. I have done subjects that are more complicated in substance than the one on Cyril Hanouna. I think of my investigation into torture in a Syrian prison, that into accusations of sexual violence against Nicolas Hulot. But here, the difficulty for me was the media pressure.

That’s to say ?

From the first day of my investigation, I wrote to Cyril Hanouna to tell him that I would like to paint his portrait. The same evening, he talked about it on his show. A columnist [Valérie Benaïm] that I interviewed debriefed our interview the same evening on set. Another columnist, Bernard Montiel, claims that I pay witnesses for my investigation. This is still a very serious accusation, we could also have sued for defamation. Cyril Hanouna himself promises that after my subject, the program “Complément d’investigation” will disappear… This has created permanent agitation and pressure. It was a grueling investigation, yes. Also because there are a lot of expectations and fantasies around Cyril Hanouna.

What did you discover about Cyril Hanouna’s personality?

When I started the investigation, I didn’t know him very well, I rarely watched his show. I didn’t know his journey and besides, I enjoyed delving into his history, in his rise, I rediscovered archives. I had no idea he was so powerful. When I spoke with Arnaud Lagardère, I realized that he still had connections and serious support.

I had indeed heard that some employees were denouncing a toxic climate. But I didn’t imagine the extent of it. By talking with the anonymous source, I discovered the extent of the discomfort of certain employees.

In fact, you contacted 32 direct collaborators of Cyril Hanouna. Apart from Valérie Benaïm, only one agreed to speak to you – and again, anonymously. For what ?

Because everyone is afraid to speak. If this person accepts, it’s because they tell me they have a responsibility. The first time we called each other, she said this to me: “I cannot take the risk of revealing my identity to you. On the other hand, I feel that I have a responsibility and that I cannot remain silent. The public must know.” This person evokes both “tricks” of sequences in the show, but also the fate of the employees “who suffer” of a boss accused of being “tyrannical” and deprive of salary those who say “something he doesn’t like.”

Do you have any regrets?

Yes, that Cyril Hanouna, who is the subject of my portrait, did not agree to speak. However, I saw him for a long time, at the end of February, in a café. It was super interesting to talk to him, he promised to open the doors for me, to reveal some aspects of his private life. We even scheduled a shoot with him during a padel tournament, a sport that he plays a lot. We had an appointment the next day at 3 p.m. And then, a few hours later, he texts me and says: “Finally, I discussed it with my communications advisors and they are not keen. Sorry, everyone tells me that I should not participate in this portrait, I am not the only one to decide.” He took refuge behind that. Too bad, because I think he is a complex person and we could have glimpsed this complexity if he had opened the doors to us.

Are you worried about the aftermath of the survey?

No more than that. I expect Cyril Hanouna to talk about us on his show on Friday, to do a debriefing. Afterwards, we have to put things in their place: it’s just the portrait of a TV host.

* “Additional investigation” offers a long portrait of Cyril Hanouna, Thursday November 30. The investigative magazine met former relatives of the host but also current collaborators, who paint the portrait of a “gang leader” with controversial management methods. He also goes behind the scenes of several notable sequences of “Touche pas à mon poste”, the PAF’s most sanctioned show. And he makes revelations about the host’s personal fortune. To see, from 11 p.m., on France 2, on franceinfo.fr and on france.tv.