France Télévisions’ celebrity consultant for nearly a decade, Marion Rousse was the subject of a sexist sketch during the 2020 Tour de France, sparking a very heated debate.
In September 2020, an unexpected scandal erupted in the heart of the Tour de France, postponed to the end of the summer due to Covid-19. Cause? Press cartoon published in the columns of the daily newspaper L’Humanité, depicting Marion Rousse, former French road cycling champion who became a leading consultant for France Télévisions and, at the time, a companion in the city for the virtual yellow jersey of Julian Alaphilippe.
The drawing, signed by cartoonist Espe, shows Marion Rousse, wearing a garter belt and bra, lying on a bed next to an exhausted Julian Alaphilippe. In the bubble, the consultant questions him about his work. The stated goal of the cartoonist, a fan of schoolboy and satirical humor, was to parody the interviews that the journalist gave to her partner after the race.
But the effect is immediate and devastating. Not only did the sketch fail to make you smile, it instantly caused a massive wave of outrage on social media. It is considered sexist, degrading, misogynistic and deeply demeaning. The cartoon does not attack the consultant’s professional skills, but reduces her to a purely sexual object, sweeping away with the back of a pencil the years of legitimacy acquired on the bike and behind the microphone.
The anger of Marion Russe and the support of the peloton
After suffering the injury, Marion Russ quickly responded publicly on her X (formerly Twitter) account. “Disappointed… Humanity is living up to its name worse and worse. We should have no respect for women, for women, to reduce 12 years of diversity on television to this level.”she wrote
As a result, the cycling world rallied around her. Julian Alaphilippe expresses deep disgust at what he calls a complete lack of respect. Colleagues from France Télévisions, starting with Laurent Louyat, as well as numerous sports and political figures, condemn “plain sexism” from a different age.
Faced with public outcry and unanimous criticism, L’Humanité management was forced to urgently respond. The newspaper immediately removed the cartoon from its website and issued a public apology. The director of the publishing house admits ” erroneous judgment” and acknowledges that the drawing is contrary to the values of equality and respect defended by everyday life.
Designer Espe also expresses his regrets, claiming that he wanted to create humor without wanting to cause pain, but also admitting that he was wrong. However, the newspaper decided to immediately suspend its collaboration with the cartoonist for the remainder of the Tour de France.