The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into CNews over alleged hate speech following controversial remarks about Bally Bagayoko, the newly elected Black mayor of the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.
CNews, a rolling news channel owned by Vivendi and controlled by media tycoon Vincent Bolloré, has often drawn comparisons to Fox News due to its opinion-driven programming and polarizing tone.
According to prosecutors, Bagayoko filed a complaint alleging that comments made by panelists on March 27 and 28 amounted to racist slurs. He recently became the first Black mayor of Saint-Denis, a diverse and economically challenged suburb north of Paris.
The controversy adds to ongoing criticism from media watchdogs and political opponents, who accuse CNews and other Bolloré-owned outlets, including the Journal du Dimanche, of disproportionately focusing on immigration and security issues in ways that may reinforce far-right narratives.
CNews denied the allegations, describing the claims as unfounded and rejecting any suggestion that racist remarks were made. Bagayoko was not immediately available for comment.
In a separate move, prosecutors have also launched an investigation into alleged cyberbullying targeting the mayor, reportedly linked to his race. Bagayoko is a member of La France Insoumise, a far-left political party.
Under French law, racial abuse can result in up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros, while cyberbullying carries a penalty of up to two years in jail and a fine of 30,000 euros.