The French actor Omar Sy, the star of the hit Netflix series Lupin, has said France must move away from the individualism that is fragmenting society and rebuild a sense of the collective if it is to hold back the far right, reports The Guardian.
In a series of media interviews to promote a new book about his life, Sy said the notions of justice, equality and fraternity had been shaken, and it was hard to be a black person in France.
In an interview in Sunday’s Le Parisien, Sy, one of France’s most popular celebrities, was questioned by readers. One asked him if it was difficult to be black in France, even for him. He said it was a dangerous question that required nuance but replied: “Of course there are instances when it’s difficult to be black in France. That doesn’t date from today and unfortunately it’s ongoing. It can happen at any time in one’s life.”
He cited the example of the racist row over the French pop star Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French artist in the world, who recently faced a backlash from the far right and the right after it was rumoured she might sing at the Olympics opening ceremony.
“She has succeeded in her life, she has transcended her social background and she finds herself in a position where she’s victim of racism,” Sy said.