Fans “disgusted” and “angry”: the two concerts of superstar Mylène Farmer, who planned to return to the Stade de France after years of absence, were canceled by the authorities on Friday, amid violence after the death of young Nahel.
The announcement was made in the middle of the afternoon by the prefecture of Seine-Saint-Denis, a few hours before the first show, the second being scheduled for Saturday.
According to a police source, this cancellation was decided at the request of the elected officials of the department. Urban violence was significant in Seine-Saint-Denis, where “almost all municipalities” were affected, a police source told AFP. In addition, the last evening of the Fnac Live festival in Paris on Friday, certain concerts of the Barrière Enghien Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday or the Hauts de Garonne Festival in Floirac and Lormont (Gironde) on Friday and Saturday are also canceled, announced their organizers. .
Reached by AFP, the singer’s press officer with more than 35 million records sold initially indicated that she had not been informed of the decision, before confirming the information: “We were working on the terms which will be communicated to you later”, she continued. On social networks, the reactions were immediate: “They canceled the concert of Mylène Farmer… You know that this lady we NEVER see her there, it was a return. It’s amazing what’s going on,” @sticktalk___ tweeted. @JulienSunrise said he was “disgusted and annoyed”. For others, it is anger that dominates. For a few days, the surroundings of the stadium had been taken by storm by fans, some not hesitating to camp in order to secure the best places on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s very sad, I just sent a message to Mylène and her team. So many ruined efforts…”, even tweeted the singer Michel Polnareff.
Sometimes referred to as the “French Madonna”, Mylène Farmer, 61, is a singer admired by millions of fans and an icon within the gay community. Although discreet in the media, this figure of pop culture, known for his grandiose shows across Europe and as far as Russia, enjoys an international reputation.
His concerts at the Stade de France were to take place four years after his residence at La Défense Arena and ten years after his last tour called Timeless. The diva challenges well beyond pop. In 2016, rapper Damso confided on MCE TV dreaming of a collaboration with her: “That would be cool. Put myself in the world of Mylène Farmer and Mylène Farmer in mine”. The one of which some of the greatest successes, Libertine, Sans contrefaçon or California, have met their audience via clips considered to be real short films, has collaborated with renowned filmmakers and photographers: Peter Lindbergh, Abel Ferrara, Luc Besson…
In 2018, the red-haired singer joined the cast of the horror film Ghostland, which won an award at the Gérardmer Fantastic Film Festival.
Four years later, she was a member of the jury of the Cannes Film Festival, the biggest film festival in the world, under the leadership of the American Spike Lee.
Violence, looting and destruction have shaken many French cities since the death on Tuesday of Nahel, 17, killed by a police officer during a road check. At the end of a second interministerial crisis committee in two days, the Head of State Emmanuel Macron welcomed the “rapid and adapted” response of the 40,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilized overnight from Thursday to Friday, including elite intervention units.
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He announced “additional resources” on the ground for the next few nights. Gendarmerie armored vehicles will be deployed, according to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
