Martin Lilyvre / AFP
The Communist Mayor (PCF) of Noisy-le-Sec, Olivier Sarrabeyrouse, speaks during a press conference following the cancellation of the projection of the film “Barbie” on a giant screen, in Noisy-le-Sec, on August 14, 2025.
France – It is the controversy that agitates the political class in the middle of August. The mayor of Noisy-le-Sec Olivier Sarrabeyrouse (PCF), who announced that he had to cancel the film’s screening « Barbie » On August 8 in a district of his city under pressure from a group of young people, held a press conference this Thursday, August 14. He notably denounced the character “Totally disproportionate” From this case … targeting in particular Bruno Retailleau.
The city had canceled the broadcast on a giant film of the film « Barbie »outdoors in the Londeau district, because a dozen young men had uttered “Insisting threats”according to the mayor, towards the staff of the town hall.
In front of the press this Friday, Olivier Sarrabeyrouus recalled that he had qualified “Obscurantism and fundamentalism” the attitude of young people, and condemned their argument “Totally fallacious” According to which this film advocated homosexuality and undermined the image of women.
“This racist hatred flame”
But the mayor claimed to condemn “With even more firm political recovery, Islamophobic racist speculation and racist hatred that has poured out for 24 hours by the right and the extreme right”.
“City social networks and mine are flooded with insulting, racist and especially Islamophobic messages. It is not the words of the Minister of the Interior of the Day that will extinguish this flame of racist hatred, distilled without any limit of which I am the target as much as my population ”he insisted, targeting Bruno Retailleau directly.
According to comments reported this Thursday by BFMTV, the latter had denounced earlier “Pressures of a violent minority that wants to” halverize “public space”judging them “Not acceptable, as is not acceptable to the slightest decline in the face of these community claims”.
An investigation was opened
In any case, an investigation was opened this Thursday in Seine-Saint-Denis, after the complaint of the mayor of Noisy-le-Sec filed this Thursday morning. “An investigation has been opened for threats, violence or an act of intimidation towards a public service project manager for him to perform or refrain from act of his mission and entrusted to the police station of Noisy-le-Sec”said a judicial source to AFP.
The Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, had also announced on X that he was going to seize justice, denouncing facts being “ community withdrawal and separatism ”, “Contrary to the foundations of our Republic” et “Likely to fall under criminal qualifications”.
Directed by Greta Gerwig, this film is a feminist satire which sees Barbie, interpreted by Margot Robbie, discovering the misogyny of the real world. On the esplanade where the film was to be screened, several young men estimated this Thursday with AFP that for the many children under the age of 10 present on August 8, the film was “Not suitable”, “Not correct”, “Too vulgar”, while claiming that this rejection “ has nothing to do with Islam or religion ”.
The town hall is also working in “The reprogramming of this film” As a reasonable deadline, announced Olivier Sarrabeyrouse, saying wishing a moment of debate so as not to let “A group of men to land in moral censors”.