Key facts
- Paris prosecutors are investigating racist abuse and online harassment of French judo star Teddy Riner.
- Riner expressed anxiety about the rise of the far-right in France.
- The abuse followed Riner's comments on a TV sports show.
- Marine Le Pen's National Rally party is polling high ahead of the next presidential election.
- Riner stated that hatred and racism are not legitimate.
- Riner said he would continue to speak out about his concerns for France.
Paris’s public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the racist abuse and online harassment of French judo star Teddy Riner. The investigation was initiated after Riner expressed concern about the rise of the far-right in France during a TV sports show this month. He stated that he felt "anxiety" about the political climate.
Following his comments, Riner, a highly successful judo competitor and a French gold medal hope for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, received numerous racist insults and hate messages online, according to the prosecutor’s office. Riner, who was born on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, wrote on social media, "Debate and contradiction are legitimate. Hatred and racism are not." He also told France 2 that he would continue to speak out, expressing a desire for a France where people are united and live together, similar to his upbringing.
The far-right, anti-immigration National Rally (RN) party politician Marine Le Pen is currently polling high ahead of France's next presidential election. In May, French football team captain Kylian Mbappé also faced criticism from RN party figures after expressing similar concerns about the potential rise of the far-right, stating he understood the consequences when "people like them come to power."