Radio-Canada apologizes, suspends journalist after on-air 'antisemitic' remarks draw backlash
Her comments prompted swift condemnation from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Author of the article:Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
Harry North
Published Sep 16, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read
Radio-Canada issued an apology Tuesday and said it suspended one of its journalists after she claimed on air that “big cities” and “Hollywood” are run by Jewish people, prompting swift condemnation.
Elisa Serret was “relieved of her duties until further notice,” the French-language public broadcaster said in a statement.
During a segment of Sur le terrain that aired Monday, Serret said: “It is the Israelis, the Jews, that finance American politics a lot … The big cities are run by Jews, Hollywood is run by Jews.”
She was responding to a question from anchor Christian Latreille about why the U.S finds it difficult to distance itself from Israel. The episode was discussing the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Israel.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs condemned the remarks Monday, demanding an immediate response from both Radio-Canada and federal leaders. The group wrote on X: “Antisemitism is absolutely unacceptable on Canadian airwaves, especially on our public broadcaster. Yet these words were aired earlier today.”
Eta Yudin, vice president for Quebec at CIJA, said Tuesday: “This incident must not conclude without internal reflection on the harm caused to our shared values by such discourse.”
She added: “Antisemitism is eroding our society. Its presence is, however, fueled by the climate that nurtures it. We expect CBC/Radio-Canada to understand this and ensure that such remarks, as well as anything that may have enabled them to be broadcast, no longer have free rein.”
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault later issued a statement, saying that “antisemitism has no place in Canada.”
He added the public broadcaster “belongs to all Canadians, and as leaders, we have a responsibility to hold it to account and demand the highest standards in journalism.”
“The words used last night were pernicious antisemitic tropes and have absolutely no place on Canadian airwaves,” Guilbeault said. “When antisemitic language is used by journalists, or anyone in a position of trust, it risks normalizing hatred in deeply dangerous ways.”
In its statement Tuesday, Radio-Canada said Serret’s comments “led to stereotypical, antisemitic, erroneous and harmful allegations against Jewish communities.
“These unacceptable comments contravene Radio-Canada’s Standards and Journalistic Practices and in no way reflect the opinion of the public broadcaster. As a result, the Information Directorate has taken the decision to relieve the journalist from her duties until further notice.
“We are aware that these comments have shocked many viewers. We are sincerely sorry and apologize for this.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, Serret has been with Radio-Canada since 2014.
The Gazette has contacted Serret for comment, but did not hear back by publication time.
Radio-Canada apologizes, suspends journalist after on-air ‘antisemitic’ remarks draw backlash
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