Holocaust denigration denounced by Léa Salamé following Thierry Ardisson's Auschwitz-Gaza comparison
Journalist Lea Salamé Assures Committal to Peace Amid Shoah Controversy
Lea Salamé, presenter of France 2’s "What an Era!", has reaffirmed her stance against any trivialization of the Holocaust after comparisons made to Gaza, following comments made by Thierry Ardisson on May 10.
In the show, Ardisson referred to Gaza as Auschwitz, an infamous Nazi concentration and extermination camp in Poland. The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism, and the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, have since condemned his remarks.
On Saturday, May 24, Salamé addressed the controversy during a new episode of "What an Era!", acknowledging that the controversial sequence should have been edited out. "The segment has shocked and caused distress," she stated. "It mortifies me because I categorically oppose any trivialization of the horrific atrocity that was the Holocaust," she emphasized.
Salamé reiterated her commitment to promoting peace and harmony, highlighting her personal history and family background. "Everything I am, stemming from my origins and my family history, including the Armenian genocide experienced by my mother's family, and the Middle East conflicts of my childhood, I have vocally advocated against religious and ethnic discord," she declared. "I will continue my entire life to strive for peace and calmness, for this remains my mission."
Salamé was at war with Hamas since the unprecedented attack perpetrated by the Palestinian Islamic movement on October 7, 2023. Israel had since blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since March 2. Amidst mounting international outrage, Israel began to let aid trickle through on Monday.
The enclave has been under siege, as reported by historian Jean-Pierre Filiu during his stay in Gaza, which had left him "overwhelmed by the tragedy of this beleaguered territory."
This renewed segment on "What an Era!" presents a reflection from Salamé, emphasizing her commitment to constructive dialogue and combating discrimination.
In the renewed segment of "What an Era!", Lea Salamé underscores her commitment to combating discrimination, as she grapples with the complexities of war-and-conflicts, such as the ongoing standoff between Israel and Gaza, which she has been vocal against since 2023. In her personal endeavors, her politics are rooted in the promotion of peace, in light of her family history and experiences of wars and tragedies, including the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide.
