"He was delighted to be called Rice Grain!" : Balkany responds to controversy over nickname of staff at Levallois-Perret town hall

On Wednesday, April 5th, Jordan De Luxe accepted Patrick and Isabelle Balkany on its set. Opportunity for the host to question the couple about the “Rice Grain” controversy. As a reminder, in 2020, LCP re-aired an excerpt from a 2002 Canal+ report to illustrate an investigation into anti-Asian racism highlighted by the advent of the Coronavirus. In this report, we discovered Isabelle Balkany, a Cambodian employee of the Levallois town hall, giving Maurice the nickname “Grain de riz”.

A series that angered many internet users. However, the Balkan couple is defending themselves against all kinds of racist remarks against their former boatman employees. I had the one called ‘Grain de riz’, we named him Maurice because he has a ‘Vietnamese’ name (…) I adore him and his brother. We brought their families, we took care of them like their parents. “It gives confidence to the former mayor of Levallois, which continues” I don’t know why it’s called Rice Grain but everyone called it Rice Grain! “. And Isabelle adds: ” This video, released during an election campaign, was 25 years ago. No one reacted in the slightest to my calling it a grain of rice! Watch how things change. I don’t know who took it out two years ago and then it exploded. Wondering.

Intrigued, Jordan counters: “VHave you ever doubted that you can no longer exist? “. ” Of course not ! By releasing Isabelle Balkany: ” First of all, he actually had a complex Asian name, he Frenchized his first name to be named Maurice in the town hall, and indeed the whole town hall always called him Grain de riz and he was overjoyed! (…) Since then, a problem with social networks and the internet (…) It shows the development of a mood that begins to characterize everything as racism. says. And to support his wife’s words, Patrick Balkany: Happy was his nickname, everyone knew he was a star. we loved it! (…) when it comes to affectionate contempt for someone, it is treated as if you are contemptuous, which is not the case at all. he finished.

Thierry-Claude