If we tell you about Cap d’Agde, what do you think of? A: At Grande Conque beach? B: Naturism? C: Libertinism? If you answer C, know that this image raises the hackles of some Agathois, exasperated at being reduced to this olé olé reputation. An old anger rekindled by reality TV Frenchie Shorebroadcast since November 12 on Paramount + and MTV France.
Particularly trashy, the program not recommended for under 16s was filmed this summer in this town on the seaside of Hérault, based on seductive promises. “Five men and five women, between 20 and 30 years old, chosen for their extravagant personality, their temperament and their eccentric lifestyle will spend a memorable vacation in a luxurious villa in Cap d’Agde where anything can happen,” said the press release. Press. The result lives up to expectations: the episodes show the candidates’ festivities, but also the sexual relations that they practice under the eye of the house cameras, just blurred.
“Cap d’Agde quickly seemed obvious to us”
“It makes noise and it doesn’t please at all,” assures a resident of 20 minutes. Whether they have seen the program or not, many residents say they have heard about it in one way or another, through word of mouth or through images circulating on social media. “It’s a bit excessive, they went beyond what a reality TV show usually shows,” comments a shopkeeper from the town. It’s a bit shocking. » In a lengthy Facebook post, the anonymous local news account « The Agde scandals » denounces an “advert that we could have done without”: “It seems that there was no better place, in the eyes of audiovisual specialists in search of an audience, than Cap d’Agde to film individuals express themselves with boundless vulgarity and display obscene behavior. »
“The pitch of the show is ten young people who go to party and work,” explains David Maceira, the artistic producer. We were looking for a place where we could do all these things, that was also festive and more on the coast. We visited quite a few villas in several towns and Cap d’Agde quickly seemed obvious to us.”
According to an Agathoise, this choice is “no accident” and rides on the libertine image of the town. David Maceira denies this. “We weren’t there at all for this vision of Cap d’Agde. We shot in classic locations, “textiles” as you could say, that we could have found elsewhere. The idea was never to go and shoot in the naturist village or to be assimilated to that image. In addition, Agde does not focus its communication on this part. It is a festive seaside resort. »
For its part, the tourist office specifies that this is in no way a “promotional action” on their part. “It is a private production, it is completely independent of the tourist office which has nothing to do with it and which has not been consulted. We absolutely did not intervene in this,” insists the communications service.
“A deplorable advertisement”
The municipal majority (The Republicans), who did not wish to answer questions from 20 minutes despite several reminders, was informed of the filming of the show, production is moving forward. “In advance, we explained to them that we wanted to film a reality show with ten young people partying. Then, we informed them every day of the locations where we were going to shoot, as well as the time slots. We also notified the police,” adds David Maceira. Beyond the sequences filmed in the villa, the candidates go to different places in the city and the region, beach bars, an amusement park, nightclubs or even a fishmonger.
The producer talks about a shoot that went “wonderfully”. “Everything went very well, both with the people we worked with and also in the shops, restaurants, etc. Some of them already knew the format and they were amused to have us. On the set we only had positive feedback,” he rejoices.
“I don’t really care about the show. The problem is the sulphurous reputation that it gives to the city,” a resident tells us. At the heart of the concerns: the potential confusion between the program and the image of the seaside resort. “Everyone will have noticed that Cap d’Agde is the first victim. It is indeed a safe bet that the mere fact of linking in this way Frenchy Shore (sic) in Cap d’Agde will bring deplorable publicity to our town, which has become more than ever a sulphurous place where “anything can happen””, regrets “The scandals of Agde”.
On the side of a nearby “textile” campsite, we are tempering. The show “does not necessarily reflect” the city, we recognize, but does not risk tarnishing its reputation: “It’s Cap d’Agde, eh, it’s known for that, for the party and all that. But when we’re not part of it, I don’t think it can impact us in a negative way. »
“This type of broadcast could be counterproductive”
Thierry Nadal, elected opposition member on the Agde fair, green and safe list, did not receive any feedback on the subject. He nevertheless understands the concerns. “For people who don’t know Cap d’Agde and the destination, the image they will perhaps get from it is the somewhat deleterious one that has stuck with us for several decades”, “in discordance with the daily life of Agathois and Agathoises,” he said, adding that he had not seen the program himself.
An owner of several festive establishments for adults is divided. “In Cape Town, it’s libertine, you have passages and passageways where anything can happen… But it’s not exposed to everyone’s view. There are people who only come for that because they know they can find it here without any problem. It’s the truth, we must not hide it,” he explains. However, he deplores the image that certain reports have given in the past. “It’s a fifth of reality, it’s just to get people talking. It’s not a very representative image.”
“Damaging the city’s image was not the goal,” reassures producer David Maceira. On the contrary, we were able to show that there was a real diversified offer and that, moreover, Cap d’Agde was not limited to to its naturist reputation. » He adds: “The slightly more daring images of the program, in reality, they could take place anywhere. They are in the house and we never make the link between Cap d’Agde and the activities of the candidates.”
If a second season is confirmed, production does not rule out starting again. At the risk of getting marked on the pants by the Agathois?