France - Francofolies festival

Censorship polemic around French rapper banned from music festival

Article published on the 2009-07-14 Latest update 2009-07-15 17:35 TU

Orelsan
(Photo: Manuel Lagos)

The French rap artist Orelsan, who was denied a spot on La Rochelle's annual Francofolies festival, says his case brings to light censorship in France. Festival organisers dropped him at the last minute under pressure from Socialist leader Ségolène Royal, who is the president of the Poitou-Charentes region where the festival is being held.

“I’m happy that the debate has finally got to the heart of the matter, which is the censorship that affects certain artists in France,” said Orelsan, whose real name is Aurelien Contentin, in the Sud-Ouest newspaper on Tuesday.

Dubbed the French Eminem, Orelsan, 26, was banned after women’s rights groups and left-wing politicians denounced a music video of his song “Sale Pute” (Dirty Whore), which talks explicitly about beating up a cheating girlfriend.

The rapper said it was an old song that he no longer performs.

“We’re finally seeing that festival organisers don’t always have their hands free,” he said.

Royale said in a statement, denied that she threatened to withhold funding from the festival. Though she did say she spoke to fthe organisers after hearing from women’s groups.

The League for Human Rights denounced the pulling of Orelsan’s new album from Paris libraries last month, calling on Socialist leaders to rethink their position.

Socialist Jack Lang, a former Culture Minister who has distanced himself from the party since the last presidential election, warned of “moral censorship”.