Tuesday February 16, 2021, we learned that France 3 had deprogrammed a film by Richard Berry a few days earlier. Since then, the actor's lawyers, as well as social media, have been rising up. Still, the channel's decision is good.
In the midst of the media whirlwind around the Richard Berry affair, France 3 decided to deprogram its film Damien's law, where he plays a lawyer, on Friday February 12, 2021. In his place, another film, Julien's law, this time directed by Jean-Pierre Daroussin, was broadcast. On the sets of C to You and C News, Tuesday February 16, 2021, this news generated heated debates. Present in Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine's show, Hervé Termine, Richard Berry's very uptight lawyer, said: "Does public service, which I appreciate so much, still live up to this respect for the presumption of innocence?"
Film actor
born on 07/31/1950
LATEST NEWS
In a press release read live on C to You, the television channel explained that it did not want to “disrupt the legal proceedings echoed in the press between Richard Berry and his daughter ”. And adds that in "agreement with the beneficiaries", she had decided to "shift the programming of Damien's law". A justification that does not pass, and which is described by some as lack of courage, as if the channel had given way to the dominant discourse, or even to a bias against the actor and director.
To read also: Richard Berry affair: for his daughter Coline, filing a complaint "was vital"
Deprogram Richard Berry to create a media break
In view of the outcry, France 3 clearly did not take the most consensual decision, far from it. "Censorship", "pressure", "media tribunal"... On the networks, the words used are strong. Like those of the defense lawyers, the wind is headlong against the chain. A reminder is necessary then: yes, following the complaint of his daughter, Richard Berry remains presumed innocent. This does not exclude that Coline Berry is well presumed victim, and that this fact also counts. By showing the film, what signal would have been sent to the prosecution? And to all the victims, suspected or proven, of incest, who today express themselves in large numbers via the hashtag #MeTooInceste?
Broadcasting as if nothing had happened would have meant telling the people concerned: no matter what you say, life goes on. Here, on the contrary, the channel shows that media time can be suspended, that the media can and must offer a “safe” time space, during which the word is allowed to express itself and justice, if called upon to rule, take its course.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
It should also be noted that, contrary to what Richard Berry's lawyers imply, the cancel culture, which would consist of "canceling" the accused because of pressure from feminists and other progressives, does not exist. Richard Berry, whatever the outcome of Coline Berry's complaint, will most likely continue his career, like other cinema men accused of sexual violence before him: Roman Polanski, Gérard Depardieu, Luc Besson, Patrick Bruel… We can therefore welcome the decision of France 3, which restores here a form of balance, so far systematically in favor of the accused men.