French rapper Orelsan criticizes CNews and Michel Sardou

During a concert at the Arkéa Arena in Bordeaux, French rapper Orelsan performed an unreleased song containing political and cultural critiques. In the track, the artist explicitly targets the news channel CNews, stating, “In short, I am the opposite of CNews.” He also directed criticism toward the far-right and certain representations of French identity, specifically mentioning singer Michel Sardou.

Following the performance, CNews presenter Pascal Praud responded to the remarks on Europe 1. Praud defended Sardou, calling for respect toward the veteran singer and noting that Sardou would soon celebrate his 80th birthday. Praud remarked that he wished Orelsan the same career as Sardou, while criticizing the rapper for caricaturing popular French traditions and musical tastes.