Supporting Claude-Inga Barbey, whether you like her sketches or not

After releasing a sketch a few months ago from his «TOC! Le Temps which was deemed transphobic by certain groups, or rather individuals, French-speaking comedienne Claude-Inga Barbey was nabbed last week for a new episode. She was accused of relaying anti-Chinese racism. It's distressing to have to point out the difference between a character and the actress who plays her, in the face of such unfounded attacks. But it's essential.

Claude-Inga Barbey is a racist. Or at least his latest sketch is, according to Amit Juillard, journalist at Blick. And Martine Brunschwig-Graf, President of the Federal Commission against Racism (FCR), who, rightly spoke out in the online media: «I'm appalled. I usually like what Claude-Inga Barbey does. But this is not funny, it's insulting, unnecessarily hurtful and in bad taste. This sketch conveys the worst stereotypes about people of Asian origin. These remarks can be considered racist towards a community already exposed because of Covid.»

The sketch in question:

Martine Brunschwig-Graf's words already contain much of what is important to understand in this controversy. The committee chairwoman expresses her point of view on Claude-Inga Barbey's sketch, starting by saying that she usually likes the French-speaking comedienne's short films, but not this one. This remark, which seems to introduce a nuanced comment, should instead alert us: what does Ms. Brunschwig-Graf's subjective taste for the quality of Claude-Inga Barbey's work have to do with this story? The answer is simple: nothing.

The urgent need to get back to basics

Because I have to confess something to you, and to you first, Ms. Barbey: I don't rush out to watch each and every one of your videos. I don't watch many sketches in general, both because I don't have the time and because I'm not attracted to this kind of exercise. And yet, I support you at 100% in the face of this new outcry. There are three obvious reasons for this. A, we need to distinguish between comedians and the characters they portray. Little b, you have to be able to laugh at everyone, without exception. c, not understanding irony is a harbinger of the demise of civilization.

What's more, the former video columnist for Time (she has threw in the towel under the pressure of this new controversy) has had the opportunity to explain its approach on several occasions, such as at the Infrarouge debate, A surreal but necessary film dedicated to her, reminding us just how much she wants to denounce her characters' lack of openness and reflection. But the actress shouldn't even have to explain herself. That this passage is nonetheless necessary to clear up misunderstandings is the perfect illustration of what is urgently needed in our crazy age: a good old-fashioned return to basics.

Have we retained nothing of Charlie Hebdo? «Being Charlie», let's repeat a thousand times if we must, doesn't mean eating the priest and Mohammed every Sunday lunchtime, but accepting that some people do, and more generally that we can laugh at all opinions and religions, even if we don't enjoy the humor. To challenge this spirit of Enlightenment is true intolerance. And that's where part of our Western societies is sinking, despite having made such great progress in this area in such a short space of time. To the credit of the daily newspaper Le Temps, for the defend these gains. May we, the people of French-speaking Switzerland, make Claude-Inga Barbey a symbol of our attachment to freedom.

Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com

Header image: © DR

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