Television and radio host Jean-Jacques Bourdin, targeted by a complaint for sexual assault, said on Sunday that he regretted “the unilateral decision of the BFMTV Group and RMC” to remove him from their antennas, recalling that he “contests the facts”.
“I regret the unilateral decision of the BFMTV Group and RMC to withdraw me from the antennas to prevent the risks of instrumentalization of the complaint of which I am the subject”, wrote the journalist in a press release sent to AFP by his lawyer, Christian Saint-Palais.
Apolline de Malherbe and Bruce Toussaint to replace him
“I remind you that I dispute the facts with which I am accused and deplore that the principle of the presumption of innocence is ignored”, he underlined. “I would like to thank the listeners, listeners, viewers and viewers who show me their support”.
Altice, the parent company of BFMTV and RMC, announced earlier this Sunday that it is removing Jean-Jacques Bourdin “temporarily” from its antennas in order to avoid “political and media manipulation of this affair”. “This decision was taken so as not to harm the daily operation of BFMTV and RMC,” the group said.
The duration of Jean-Jacques Bourdin’s sidelining is not specified, nor its legal terms. ” The 8:30 political interview, on BFMTV / RMC, will be provided by Apolline de Malherbe from Monday, “said the group, while France in The Eyes, on BFMTV, will be hosted by Bruce Toussaint.