Comedian Merwane Benlazar Fired from France 5 Over Controversial Tweets

The humorist, accused of promoting misogyny and Islamism, addresses the backlash with a satirical performance while defending his remarks as misunderstood humor.

• Merwane Benlazar was dismissed from his temporary role on France 5's 'C à vous' after old tweets resurfaced, prompting accusations of misogyny and Islamist sympathies.
• The controversy began with his January 31 TV appearance, where some criticized his attire as resembling Islamist stereotypes, despite his defense that it was a stylistic choice.
• Benlazar's tweets, which included contentious jokes about women and religion, were described by him as humor taken out of context, including one tweet he claimed was part of a failed attempt at flirting.
• The backlash led to public criticism from political figures, including Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who confirmed that Benlazar would no longer appear on France 5.
• The comedian responded to the uproar through a stand-up performance, addressing racism and defending freedom of expression for Arab and Muslim individuals in France.

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