The mayor of Arras, Frédéric Leturque, announced that he had filed a complaint after a video was posted online in which an influencer openly mocked Éléonore Laloux, a municipal councilor with Down syndrome. The elected official also initiated separate legal proceedings after these remarks, which were deemed discriminatory and humiliating.
In this video, broadcast live on YouTube in early April, excerpts of which are still circulating online, the influencer hurls insults and degrading comments about the city councilor's disability. The Arras city hall denounces these “unacceptable” attacks, which contribute to the normalization of hate and discrimination on social media.
A wave of political outrage
Frédéric Leturque indicated that he intended to quickly contact Arcom in order to "put an end to these intolerable abuses." He also sent a letter to Emmanuel Macron to demand a public condemnation of the remarks targeting the elected official.
Since the video was released, several political figures have expressed their support for Éléonore Laloux. Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, denounced the “cowardly” act of ridiculing disability to generate viewership. Camille Galliard-Minier, the Minister for Disabled People, also condemned the “hateful” rhetoric, which she deemed incompatible with the principles of equality and dignity.
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