In Brittany, Dieudonné orchestrates clandestine shows, evading prefectural bans
In a series of defiant performances, controversial French comedian and political activist Dieudonné M'bala M'bala has continued to entertain despite bans in various cities across France.
On August 8, 2023, Dieudonné performed in Brittany, despite a prefecture ban. The following week, he organized a secret show in Montbartier (Tarn-et-Garonne), after the prefecture and the mayor of Toulouse banned his initially planned performance in Toulouse. The same day, he also performed in Eybens (Isère), again in defiance of the prefecture's ban.
These performances, which have become a pattern for Dieudonné, have led to legal actions under French anti-hate speech laws. In July 2021, he was sentenced to 200 days of fines for receiving stolen goods.
Dieudonné's latest creation, "Friday 13", has been filled with outrageous, hateful, conspiratorial, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-Semitic remarks. His performances have sparked significant social tensions, protests, and debates within local communities about freedom of speech versus combating hate speech.
In a move to avoid bans, Dieudonné has a history of moving performance locations. For instance, his July 25 show in Lestrem, Pas-de-Calais, was interrupted by gendarmes. He also announced another show on August 9, without providing details, which was subsequently banned by the prefects of Finistère and Morbihan.
The prefecture of Rennes has not yet indicated whether it will initiate legal proceedings against Dieudonné for his show on August 8. In January 2024, he was fined 8,000 euros for performing in a castle in Piré-Chancé, Ille-et-Vilaine, without informing the owners.
Despite the bans, Dieudonné's performances continue. On August 26, he performed in a hangar on a private plot in Allonzier-la-Caille (Haute-Savoie), despite the prefecture's ban.
Francis Lalanne, a singer close to Dieudonné, performed as the opening act in some of these shows. The impact on local communities, particularly in terms of public order and potential radicalization, remains a topic of concern and debate.
In the context of ongoing legal actions under French anti-hate speech laws, Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, a controversial comedian and political activist, performed in Brittany, Montbartier, Eybens, and Allonzier-la-Caille despite prefecture bans, demonstrating a pattern of moving performance locations to avoid prohibitions. These performances, filled with outrageous, hateful, conspiratorial, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-Semitic remarks, have sparked social tensions, protests, and debates about freedom of speech versus combating hate speech in local communities.
