Jean-Luc Mélenchon urges boycott of France Culture morning show over fake audio, Radio France defends independence

The manipulated clip

On 24 June, France Culture journalist Guillaume Erner aired a truncated, unsourced audio clip during an interview with Marine Le Pen. The montage, which Erner later admitted he had found on social media, made it appear that Jean-Luc Mélenchon had made anti-Semitic remarks comparable to those of Jean-Marie Le Pen. The clip was immediately controversial, and Erner apologised. He received a disciplinary sanction but will remain on air when the station returns after the summer break.

Mélenchon's call for boycott

On Saturday 4 July, Mélenchon took to X to denounce the incident. He called Erner a "faussaire" (forger) and said he and his "complices" at France Culture were "impunis" (unpunished).

The wisest thing, while waiting for better days after 2027, is not to go to the France Culture morning show.

He also advised that "invités de Radio France doivent se méfier" (guests of Radio France must be wary). The call amounts to a boycott of the public broadcaster's flagship morning programme.

Radio France's response

Radio France, the parent group of France Culture, replied on X the same day. It insisted that Erner had been sanctioned, contrary to Mélenchon's claim, and warned that political pressure was endangering the independence of public media.

Rarely has the independence of public media been so undermined as this year. Today by you, yesterday by others. We cannot work under such permanent political pressure.

The group also noted that it had been targeted for months by Charles Alloncle, the UDR deputy who served as rapporteur for a parliamentary inquiry into public broadcasting. Radio France called on all political parties to take media independence seriously.

Internal tensions at France Culture

Despite the disciplinary measure against Erner, the controversy has not subsided inside the station. After a meeting on Thursday 2 July between the morning-show host and the editorial staff, the Société des journalistes de France Culture said in a statement that "trust with the editorial staff has been broken" and that Erner's proposals were not sufficient to restore it. The standoff leaves the station's flagship programme in an uneasy position ahead of the 2027 presidential campaign.

1. 24 June: Clip airedGuillaume Erner plays a truncated, unsourced audio clip suggesting Mélenchon made anti-Semitic remarks.
2. 24 June: Erner apologisesErner apologises for the montage and later receives a disciplinary sanction.
3. 2 July: Staff meetingErner meets with the editorial staff; the journalists' society says trust is broken.
4. 4 July: Mélenchon calls for boycottMélenchon urges guests to avoid the France Culture morning show, calling Erner a 'forger'.
5. 4 July: Radio France respondsRadio France says Erner was sanctioned and warns against permanent political pressure.