Influencer and former reality TV contestant Melanight has sparked controversy by suing the M6 group. The reason given is plagiarism of her show concept. Now in charge of production, the influencer is claiming nearly 1,3 million euros for economic "parasitism", significant moral and financial damages.
A stolen idea?
Broadcast since December 9, 2024 on W9, "The Brain" is a reality TV show that pits well-known personalities against each other to determine the smartest. However, according to Melanight, whose real name is Mélanie Amar, the concept of this show would be very similar to an idea she had presented to the M6 group in 2023. Her project, entitled "La Pire Classe", proposed an educational competition aimed at combating school dropout, with influencers in the spotlight.
Melanight claims to have submitted her idea to an M6 executive in July 2023, but the project was not officially selected. A few months later, she discovered that "The Brain" had disturbing similarities with her concept, including the filming location, the games, and the finale.
In a statement published on her social networks, Melanight accuses the M6 group of stealing her idea. She also denounces discrimination linked to her status as a reality TV candidate, which allegedly led to the sidelining of her project. To defend herself, she called on lawyer Christian Charrière-Bournazel, a specialist in intellectual property, and Tom Michel, a lawyer for influencers.
M6's response
For its part, the M6 group firmly contests these accusations. In a response addressed to Le Parisien, M6 denounces these allegations as denigration. The group claims to have already responded in a reasoned manner to Ms. Amar and her lawyer, and assures that the courts regularly rule that such allegations without a factual basis are sufficient to justify the allocation of damages for wrongful denigration.
Despite the controversy, "The Brain" brings together nearly 400 viewers per episode, with a peak audience of 000 viewers on January 470, 000. A notable performance for W3, following the third season of "Les Cinquante".
The case promises to continue in court, where Melanight hopes to obtain recognition as a creator and compensation for the damages suffered.
