Saint-Denis mayor distances himself from Barbara Butch controversy amid antisemitism debate

Friday 24 July 2026 - 10:27

By: Sahili Aya

Saint-Denis mayor distances himself from Barbara Butch controversy amid antisemitism debate

The controversy surrounding French DJ and LGBT figure Barbara Butch has sparked further political debate in France, after Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis, said he would not have invited the artist to his city, while rejecting accusations that his political movement tolerates antisemitism.

The comments come after a concert by Barbara Butch in Grenoble was disrupted by local activists linked to La France Insoumise (LFI) and pro-Palestinian demonstrators, reigniting tensions over the party's positions on antisemitism and political expression.

Disputed concert interruption

Barbara Butch's performance was interrupted approximately 20 minutes after it began, according to reports, following opposition from activists who criticised the artist's public positions.

The controversy reportedly centred on her support for the Yadan law, introduced in April with the stated aim of addressing what lawmakers described as new forms of antisemitism.

The incident triggered criticism from political opponents, who accused LFI-linked activists of targeting the artist because of her stance on the issue.

Mayor defends party's position

Speaking on French television channel TF1, Bally Bagayoko, an LFI mayor, said he personally would not have welcomed Barbara Butch, arguing that the artist had taken positions that he disagreed with.

At the same time, he insisted that La France Insoumise has consistently maintained a clear position against antisemitism and rejected claims that the party supports discriminatory views.

Renewed political tensions

The dispute adds to ongoing debates in France over the boundaries between political activism, artistic freedom and responses to the conflict in the Middle East.

The controversy has placed renewed attention on LFI's internal debates and the way its members address accusations involving antisemitism, particularly as the movement continues to face criticism from rival political groups.