During his visit to Saint-Denis on Thursday, April 4, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the possible participation of singer Aya Nakamura in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
On Thursday, April 4, Emmanuel Macron expressed his support for the inclusion of Franco-Malian singer Aya Nakamura in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He stated that she has “absolutely her place in an opening or closing ceremony” of the Paris Olympic Games. The President also clarified that the decision on whether the star participates or not is up to the ceremony’s organizers.
The controversy surrounding the potential participation of Aya Nakamura, a star of French-speaking music and the most listened-to female artist in the world, in a major sporting event has sparked an outcry from conservative and nationalist circles. They see her inclusion as an act of division and humiliation towards the French people. Following a wave of hateful comments against the singer on social media, judicial authorities have opened an investigation into racism. The attacks endured by Aya Nakamura have been public and were firmly condemned by figures such as Mathieu Maucourt, the deputy in charge of youth, and Lilian Thuram, a former professional football player.