The management of the Togolese channel Direct 7 has issued an apology following offensive remarks made against Patrice Talon in a video produced by their editorial team. The television’s expressions of regret were conveyed by the General Director, who sent a letter to the spokesperson of the Beninese government.
The General Director of Direct 7 expressed regret for the offensive comments made against President Patrice Talon on their television broadcast. “We would like to offer our most sincere apologies for this inconvenience, which in no way reflects our editorial line or our respect for the President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency Patrice Talon, as well as for the Beninese people,” the Director wrote, as quoted by La Météo.
Indeed, during a discussion about the ECOWAS stance on the Nigerian crisis, a guest on Direct 7 directed offensive comments towards Patrice Talon. Speaking in a manner akin to a street debate, the guest launched into a tirade of insults against the President of the Republic of Benin. Despite the inappropriate language, the host did not intervene to correct the guest’s behavior. The guest repeatedly referred to the Beninese President as a “gayman” (cybercriminal).
The video circulated on social media, sparking outrage among some and mockery from others. At the highest level, it was reported that strong protests were lodged against the channel. The HAAC (High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication) of Togo was even approached by a citizen regarding the matter, but it declared itself incompetent to address the complainant’s request.
