Florent Pagny at war with the tax authorities, he received a call from his mother in panic: “They are taking the house!”

Florent Pagny, who continues to be on the road to recovery following his lung cancer, went to recharge his batteries in Patagonia (Argentina) where he raised with his wife Azucena, originally from the country, their two children Inca and Ael, aged respectively 25 and 22 years old. Her friend, the novelist Emmanuelle Cosso, recently gave her news to TV Star : “He had to say that he had exams in January. He does them there and if things don’t go well, he returns to France. He didn’t come back, and if he’s still there, everything is fine. The news are good. I’m glad he didn’t come home.“

The woman of letters and ex of Kad Merad is well placed to give news of the artist, given that she worked with him to make the documentary Florent tells Pagnywhich was broadcast this Friday March 15 on France 3. It is the continuation of his autobiography Pagny by Florent released in April 2023. Florent Pagny tells his own story in this film, for which he uses his voice to comment on previously unseen archive images. For the rest, he trusted Emmanuelle Cosso and her teams. In this documentary many details about the singer are revealed. We learn in particular that he one day found himself in “a tax storm“, “who is preparing” at this moment “In France“while he still benefits from”Argentinian tranquility“.

Florent Pagny and the tax authorities, a long “four-year” battle

A story he tells himself: “I receive a phone call from my mother who tells me ‘They (the taxman, editor’s note) are taking the house’“. To which he responds: “Ok you win: I’m going home.” “We got into a fight. And it lasted four years!he adds. They always thought there was a mix-up. They started trying to straighten me out.“In other words, the tax authorities accuse him of having concealed income, as the voice-over explains. Florent Pagny responds by explaining that it is a loan, “and that it cannot under any circumstances be taxed“. Eventually : “part of his property is seized.“

Florent Pagny then reacts in song. Because his ultimate hit My freedom of thought, composed by Pascal Obispo, is none other than his response to this situation. He tells through this music what is happening to him. Unfortunately, this will not be enough for him to avoid a legal attack. “Everything stopped“, he recalls, he who was on tour at that time. The outcome was ultimately happy for the artist, since he was released in January 2005. Relieved, he however preferred to remain discreet, and then returned in Argentina : “I don’t make any noise, and I break away.“