“The opening ceremony should never have opposed us but brought us together,” regrets Jean Dujardin after the controversy

The opening ceremony of the World Cup at the Stade de France before the victory of the Blues against New Zealand caused a reaction in certain media and on social networks, considered old-fashioned by many observers. Targeted by critics for his performance, Jean Dujardin regretted, on his Instagram account, the mockery, Thursday September 14, while the daily Libération notably headlined “Go Rancid”evoking “the sepia postcard of a France that smells of mothballs”. “I’m falling backwards”, wrote the 2012 Best Actor Oscar for the film The Artist.

“The second degree that I always liked to use was not understood and I regret it. We should certainly have remembered that our country is widely criticized for its polemical and ‘grumpy’ spirit. It’s a shame that we couldn’t escape it when there was such good will”wrote on Instagram the one who also plays a parody of a French spy in the film series OSS 117. The actor, who was also a rugby player when younger, responded directly to the daily by saying: “An opening ceremony is always the presentation to the rest of the world of the country where the celebrated event takes place. We are indeed also the country of the beret, of gastronomy, of culture, of education, no offense to some…”

“Celebrating the French art of living”

“This ceremony should never have opposed us but brought us together. I am an artist, I will not be the standard bearer of any party. I will let you settle your affairs among yourselves. I wanted it to be a ceremony of open-mindedness, sharing and joy. I’m keeping this beautiful emotion warm. Come on Blues”he concludes.

The ceremony was supposed “celebrate the French art of living”with an action taking place in the 1950s – a reference to the first French victory over New Zealand – and the French actor as the central character, white knitwear on his back, cap on his head and miming the baker shoving his bread into his bakery.