During a meeting in Lyon on February 26, 2026, Jean-Luc Mélenchon joked about pronouncing Jeffrey Epstein's name, drawing antisemitism accusations from several political figures. This remark came amid a broader speech defending his movement and criticizing traditional media. The backdrop involves tensions from Quentin Deranque's death and municipal elections.
On February 26, 2026, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumise (LFI), held a meeting in Lyon to support LFI's mayoral candidate, Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi. During his roughly two-hour speech at the Bourse du Travail, attended by about 2000 militants according to organizers, he reaffirmed support for La Jeune Garde, an antifascist group linked to accusations in the Quentin Deranque case, a nationalist student lynched in Lyon two weeks earlier. 'These are our brothers,' Mélenchon stated, asserting that 'Rima Hassan, Raphaël Arnault, and our movement are not involved in what happened. This is a deliberate trap set by the Nemesis association'.
He also attacked traditional media, labeling them 'outraged old press' and 'stale bread,' referencing a recent press conference limited to 'new digital media.' He specifically targeted BFMTV, AFP, France Info, and Le Figaro, saying 'Leave me alone' and urging viewers to watch his speech on YouTube.
Discussing the Epstein affair, seven years after the American pedophile's death, Mélenchon lamented alleged media silence, then quipped: 'Except when it comes to the Epstein affair,' correcting himself with 'Ah... I meant Epstine, sorry, it sounds more Russian, Epstine. So now you'll say Epstine instead of Epstein, Frankenstine instead of Frankenstein!'. This joke, playing on the 'ein' ending evoking Yiddish and Epstein's Jewishness, sparked outrage on social media.
Journalist Marianna Perebenesiuk explained on X that emphasizing this pronunciation 'often refers to a person's Jewishness.' Yonathan Arfi, Crif president, responded: 'Despite J.-L. Mélenchon's displeasure, a fifth-grader knows that in English, “Epstein” is pronounced “Epstine.” [...] Mélenchon remains a synonym for political indignity.' Minister Aurore Bergé stated: 'The new antisemitism in France is spelled in 3 letters: L-F-I. [...] Not one vote for these antisemites.' RN deputy Matthias Renault called it a 'calculated antisemitic slip,' while PS senator Laurence Rossignol denounced 'the most terrifying antisemitism'.
These accusations add to criticisms of Mélenchon since the October 7, 2023 attacks, where he prioritized the Palestinian cause. LFI's relations with the press have soured since Deranque's death, including the indictment for 'complicity in murder' of Jacques-Elie Favrot, aide to Raphaël Arnault.
