TV host admits being fooled by fake priest on Ligonnès case show

Julien Courbet, host of the M6 program "Appel à témoins" (Call for Witnesses), has acknowledged being misled by an individual falsely presenting himself as a priest. The man appeared on the show to discuss the ongoing, high-profile Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès case, offering what he claimed were exclusive details gleaned from a confession.

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I am not looking for excuses.

During the broadcast, the supposed Father Marc asserted that he had received a confession from a man deeply troubled and in a depressive state. He further stated that he and the Bishop of Carcassonne had decided to speak out after a year of deliberation, aiming to address various issues within the Church, including alleged abuses.

However, these claims were swiftly debunked. The Bishop of Carcassonne, in a video shared on social media, categorically denied the man's assertions. He clarified that neither he nor the M6 channel had been contacted by this individual, and importantly, that no priest named "Father Marc" exists within their religious community. The bishop expressed surprise that a media outlet like M6 would broadcast such testimony, especially given a previous incident involving a false identification in the same case.

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The sequence is totally false. M6 did not call me, nor this gentleman. There is no Father Marc in this religious community.

Following these revelations, both M6 and "Appel à témoins" have faced significant criticism on social media for their lack of due diligence in verifying the guest's identity and testimony. Courbet addressed the controversy on his RTL radio show, "Ça peut vous arriver," acknowledging that he had been "fooled" and was not seeking excuses for the error.

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It is quite incredible to see a media outlet like M6 broadcast this testimony.