In a column published in the Sunday Journal on July 16, Gérard Darmon confided in the Germanic origins of his first name. And the least we can say is that the actor does not like it.
It is a very special forum in which Gérard Darmon gave himself up. Published in the Journal du dimanche on July 16, it talks about racism, anti-Semitism under the prism of the… first name of the 74-year-old actor. Judge rather what the actor said: “My parents were at the forefront of anti-Semitism, even if they got through it. They were immigrants, Jews and Pieds-noir to boot”.
Yes, Gérard Darmon is a son of immigrants who lived through one of the worst pages in history. “During the post-war period, in the years 1945-1955, we didn’t trumpet that we were Jews. We were good Frenchmen. I don’t know if we should keep a low profile or if it had become a reflex. The fact remains that me, as a Jew, I have always been asked to be on the sidelines“.
Gérard Darmon: “My Hebrew first name is not declared so as not to arouse suspicion”
After telling his family history, Gérard Darmon began by pouring out on something else entirely: the origins of his first name. “I was named Gerard, a German-sounding name. And Elie, my middle name is Hebrewthe one I am given at bar mitzvah is not declared so as not to arouse suspicion. This is assimilation. A model of welcome that maintains anti-Semites in their prejudices. I carry that load here“. A problem of the time which it is very important to keep in mind.
© OLIVIER BORDE
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Gerard Darmon
Published in the Sunday newspaper dated July 16, it talks about racism, anti-Semitism under the prism of the… first name of the 74-year-old actor.
© COADIC GUIREC
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Gerard Darmon
“My parents were at the forefront of anti-Semitism, even if they went through it.”
© OLIVIER BORDE
5/12 –
Gerard Darmon
“They were immigrants, Jews and Pieds-noir to boot.”
© JLPPA
6/12 –
Gerard Darmon
Yes, Gérard Darmon is a son of immigrants who lived through one of the worst pages in history.
© JLPPA
7/12 –
Gerard Darmon
“During the post-war period, in the years 1945-1955, we did not proclaim that we were Jews”.
© JLPPA
8/12 –
Gerard Darmon
“We were good French. I don’t know if we should keep a low profile or if it had become a reflex”.
© Denis Guignebourg
9/12 –
Gerard Darmon
“The fact remains that I, as a Jew, have always been asked to hold my ground.”
© COADIC GUIREC
10/12 –
Gerard Darmon
After telling his family history, Gérard Darmon began by pouring out on something else entirely: the origins of his first name.
© COADIC GUIREC
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Gerard Darmon
“I was named Gérard, a German-sounding name”.
© Aurelien Morissard
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Gerard Darmon
“And Elijah, my middle name is Hebrew, the one I am given during the bar mitzvah is not declared so as not to arouse suspicion”.