Jean-Marc Morandini

Jean-Marc Morandini was convicted on appeal in March 2025 of corruption of minors and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended, and a €20 000 fine for sexual messages sent to three adolescents between 2009 and 2016. On 14 January 2026, the Court of Cassation refused to admit his appeal on points of law, making the conviction final. He was also permanently banned from working in professions involving contact with minors and placed on the sex offenders register.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

In the 'Les Faucons' case, Morandini was sentenced on appeal in January 2025 to eighteen months' imprisonment, suspended, for sexually harassing a young actor and fined for undeclared work. In January 2026, he withdrew his appeal on points of law, making this second conviction final.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

After his first conviction became final in January 2026, CNews initially kept Jean-Marc Morandini on air. The decision triggered an open crisis: channel journalists and politicians challenged his retention, Sonia Mabrouk announced her departure, and on 9 February Morandini eventually offered to withdraw from broadcasting immediately.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Arcom formally warned CNews in December 2025 following remarks made on 'La grande interview' and 'Morandini Live', finding breaches of obligations not to incite hatred or discrimination and to maintain editorial control. It had also reminded the channel of its duty of accuracy in covering the RN trial, including on 'Morandini Live'.

State of the evidence

Documented

In July 2016, a press investigation revealed circumstances surrounding auditions for the web series 'Les Faucons', during which young actors were allegedly pressured to undress or respond to sexualised requests through fake profiles. Europe 1 and NRJ12 temporarily removed Morandini from their schedules, and two judicial investigations were opened.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

i-Télé management's decision to put Jean-Marc Morandini on air while he had just been formally placed under investigation for corruption of a minor triggered a 31-day strike, the longest in the history of French private broadcasting, and the departure of dozens of journalists.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Before the 2007 presidential election, Jean-Marc Morandini announced that he intended to publish rumours and trends circulating in newsrooms on his blog from 6 p.m., although the law prohibited their publication before polling stations closed.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The TF1 programme 'Tout est possible', presented by Jean-Marc Morandini, was repeatedly criticised for voyeurism, sensationalist subjects and turning ordinary people into spectacles, becoming one of the symbols of 1990s 'trash television'.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Directly implicated