French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, April 15, that he was "shocked" by "racist" remarks over the proposed performance of French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
Nakamura has been at the centre of a political storm since it emerged Macron had suggested the superstar singer of "Djadja" could perform at the July 26 event. Far-right politicians and conservatives have rounded on the 28-year-old, accusing her of "vulgarity" and not respecting the French language, while racist online abuse sparked a police investigation.
Speaking with broadcasters BFMTV and RMC, the French president backed Nakamura. "She will be one of the performers," Macron said, while adding that Nakamura would take the final decision. "She is one of the great French artists, one of those who are most acclaimed around the world. But she won't be the only one, far from it," he said.
Macron condemned the comments about the singer. "The reactions have shocked me," he said. "There have been some really racist reactions."
According to a poll conducted by polling institute Elabe for BFMTV, 49% of French people thought the singer's performance at the opening ceremony would be a "bad idea," while 21% thought it was a "good idea."