Michel Drucker, singled out for sexism: “Really, but, really?”, asks the host facing Marie Portolano. This Saturday, January 13, he calls the journalist, introducing himself as “the former sports journalist”. He questions: “Have you really experienced difficulties with your sports friends?” Confirming these words, Marie Portolano addressed them in a 2021 documentary.
On January 13, the show “Quelle Époque”, hosted by Léa Salamé, was the scene of a lively controversy. Michel Drucker, speaking to journalist Marie Portolano, uttered a reply which sparked lively debate: “this is the former sports journalist who is talking to you here Marie, did you really suffer with your sports friends?” This exchange took place in a tone that many Internet users found teasing and inappropriate on the part of Michel Drucker, calling into question Marie Portolano’s experience in the sporting field.
The “really, but, really?” launched by Michel Drucker immediately provoked passionate reactions. Marie Portolano, faced with this question, confirmed her background, already exposed in a 2021 documentary. She had collected damning testimonies from 18 women, all sports journalists, sharing their painful experiences of sexual harassment, assault, and sexist comments on television.
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Calls for awareness: towards cultural transformation in the media
The controversy quickly made the rounds on social networks, mainly on Instagram, where many journalists expressed their dismay at Michel Drucker’s reaction. For these professionals, the host’s response suggested that Marie Portolano was exaggerating her comments, thus minimizing the challenges encountered by the journalist and other women in the world of sports journalism. This situation once again highlights the persistent issues of sexism in the world of media.
Digital platforms served as a sounding board, amplifying the voices of women in the profession who expressed solidarity with Marie Portolano and advocated for increased awareness of issues of harassment and sexism in the media industry. The controversy surrounding Michel Drucker highlights the need for cultural transformation in the media environment. Calls for continued awareness-raising on the issues of harassment and sexism are being heard. Journalists, especially women, are demanding a more respectful working environment, where such responses are not tolerated.
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A fashionista at heart, Dora has always dreamed of writing for fashion. After having accomplished her dream and much more, she redirects herself towards current affairs, whether celebrity,…