Lawyer Alain Jakubowicz strongly criticized CNews and several of its commentators on Tuesday evening on France 5's "C ce soir ." A former regular contributor to the news channel, he explained why he had distanced himself from it, denouncing what he now considers an unbearable escalation of sensationalism. On Wednesday morning, Pascal Praud responded to him on "L'Heure des pros," inviting him to defend his accusations live on his show.
Alain Jakubowicz admits to having long agreed to participate in CNews programs
Asked to explain why he had participated for several years in CNews debates despite contesting its editorial line, Alain Jakubowicz acknowledged that he had long considered his presence necessary to provide a different perspective : "I am a lawyer and I went there occasionally. There was undoubtedly a little bit of pride involved, I'll admit it, being alone against everyone, it's somewhat in my nature, I acknowledge."
The lawyer went on to explain that he thought he was playing a useful role in relation to the other participants: "It's true that I long thought I was an important counterpoint, in quotes, necessary in any case. Many people told me you can't continue going there and others told me you have to continue because there needs to be another discourse."
He ultimately felt that his participation was having the opposite effect to what he had intended. "There came a point where the tsunami was too strong and I felt like I was being used, or that I was using myself."
Alain Jakubowicz also clarified that he had never been officially taken off the air: "No one fired me. I understood perfectly well that I was persona non grata. No one actually told me so." According to him, his mere presence now contributed to giving a form of legitimacy to the debates he contested.
"He created little clones infinitely more dangerous than himself": his attack against Pascal Praud
The lawyer then directly attacked Pascal Praud and other CNews personalities. While he was careful to distinguish the presenter from some of his colleagues, his remarks were particularly harsh: "Pascal Praud is far from being the worst, honestly, not by a long shot, because he has created little clones who seem infinitely more dangerous to me than he is himself. They all think they're little Pascal Prauds, with a kind of one-upmanship that I personally find completely unbearable."
The former CNews commentator also called on those who dispute the positions defended on the channel to accept his invitations in order to challenge them: "Let's go in large numbers to challenge them, to confront them with their contradictions because they don't have them for very long."
These statements were made while CNews is the subject of a mobilization demanding the withdrawal of its frequency , amid criticism of its editorial line.
Pascal Praud replied: "Come tomorrow! I'm waiting for your answer."
This Wednesday morning, Pascal Praud responded to the lawyer's accusations on L'Heure des pros, broadcast on CNews and Europe 1. The journalist invited him to come on his show as early as Thursday to discuss their positions: "Come tomorrow! You said it on air, come tomorrow Mr. Jakubowicz. I'm waiting for your response."
Pascal Praud also recalled his relationship with the lawyer, asserting that he had always wanted to give him a platform: "I like Alain Jakubowicz. I'll tell you: I'm naive because there are lots of people who tell me, even in the house, 'Pascal, you're incredibly naive, these people want your head.' And I tell them, no, we're going to hear from them."
Claiming to have invited him "50 times" , the presenter rejected accusations concerning the supposed dangerousness of his channel's guests : "Mr. Jakubowicz, come tomorrow! Are we dangerous people because we bear witness to reality? These people have lost their common sense!"
A break that had already begun several months ago
The criticisms voiced by Alain Jakubowicz are not his first distancing himself from CNews. The lawyer had already expressed his disagreement with the radicalization he perceived among some commentators and with the evolution of the channel's editorial line.
He nevertheless continued to make occasional appearances on certain programs, notably due to his personal relationship with Pascal Praud. Last February, tensions had already surrounded his participation in a program dedicated to paying tribute to Ilan Halimi, 20 years after his murder.
Pascal Praud is now awaiting Alain Jakubowicz's response to his invitation to appear on Thursday's show. At this stage, no public acceptance from the lawyer has been confirmed.
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