Radio-Canada Suspends Journalist Élisa Serret After Antisemitic Broadcast Remarks

September 17, 2025 – Canada – 

Radio-Canada has placed correspondent Élisa Serret on indefinite leave following controversial comments she made during a live broadcast that were widely condemned as antisemitic. The remarks came during the French-language program Sur le terrain, while Serret was reporting from Washington on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel.

Asked why the U.S. continues to support Jerusalem, given clashes in Gaza, Serret stated, in French, that “the Israelis, in fact the Jews, finance a lot of American politics” and asserted they control a “big machine.” She also claimed Hollywood and major U.S. cities are “run by Jews,” invoking longstanding stereotypical tropes about Jewish power and influence.

In response, Radio-Canada issued a formal apology. The broadcaster characterized Serret’s comments as “stereotypical, antisemitic, erroneous and prejudicial allegations against Jewish communities,” and said they violate its Journalistic Standards and Practices. The network affirmed that her words did not reflect the views of the public broadcaster.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) strongly condemned the remarks. Eta Yudin, CIJA vice-president for Quebec, called on the broadcaster to ensure such rhetoric does not recur. “This incident cannot be allowed to pass without serious internal reflection on the damage such hateful rhetoric inflicts on our democratic values,” Yudin said.

Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault also denounced Serret’s statements, declaring that antisemitism has no place in Canada and warning of the risk that such tropes, especially when aired by trusted institutions, normalize hatred.

The incident has sparked public debate about the responsibilities of public broadcasters in preventing hate speech, especially given the delicate international context. The suspension underscores how media outlets are being held accountable for on-air rhetoric, especially when it crosses into discriminatory territory.

Reference – 

Radio-Canada Suspends Journalist After Antisemitic Comments Spark Outrage

Radio-Canada Suspends Journalist After Antisemitic Comments Spark Outrage

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/rdi-journalist-suspended-for-comments-considered-to-be-anti-semitic/