By Le Figaro with AFP
Published
Guillaume Meurice, who makes fun of big business in his book The End Word of the story in 200 expressions, takes legal action against Le Robert editions, a subsidiary of Vincent Bolloré’s group. LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP
” It is up to justice to say what are the consequences of the censorship of a work “, explains the lawyer of the comedian, who sees the hand of Vincent Bolloré in the case.
The comedian Guillaume Meurice, accompanied by the other author of a book they co-wrote, sued Le Robert editions after the cancellation of the publication of a book that hurt billionaire Vincent Bolloré, we learned on Friday . ” It is up to justice to say what are the consequences of the censorship of a work “, said in a press release to AFP Élise Van Beneden, the lawyer of the two authors, Guillaume Meurice and the linguist Nathalie Gendrot.
The book was to be called The end of the story in 200 expressionsand be released in September 2022. But Le Robert, a subsidiary of Editis and therefore of Vivendi, which belongs to Vincent Bolloré, gave up on it, in the days preceding publication, without compensating the authors.
Read alsoPublication of Guillaume Meurice’s humorous book suspended in extremis
According to the summons, which AFP was able to consult, after a discussion between the publishers and the authors to validate the text in principle finished, the director general of the publishing house Charles Bimbenet wrote to Guillaume Meurice mi -September that he had ” been decided to suspend publication » while he modifies certain pages.
The comedian, columnist on France Inter, made fun of big companies (Louboutin, Dault Aviation, Monsanto, Deliveroo), Vincent Bolloré, former CEO of Renault Carlos Ghosn, and government policy on education . Since the authors refused any further modification, the publishing contract was terminated. The book was finally published by a competing publisher, Flammarion, six months later under the title The End Word of the story: 201 expressions to impress the gallery.
In their ignment, the comedian and his co-author believe that ” the real motivation for this termination lies in the intervention of a shareholder who does not support the criticism “, namely Mr. Bolloré. They say ” publicly known to be the censor of all ideas and opinions that bother him “.
Guillaume Meurice is claiming 8,000 euros for the financial loss, and Nathalie Gendrot 10,000 euros for the same reason. They are also claiming 30,000 euros jointly and severally for the non-pecuniary damage they both allegedly suffered.
No spokesperson for Le Robert editions could be reached on Friday to comment on the case. A first hearing at the Paris court is scheduled for June 15.