Caught up in a controversy over messages deemed racist that were relayed on social media, former Stade Français president Max Guazzini announced on Thursday 12 March that he intended to file a complaint for defamation, denouncing “completely false” accusations aimed at him in the middle of the municipal campaign in Paris.
Aged 78 and placed 58th on the list led by Rachida Dati (Les Républicains), the historic figurehead of the Paris rugby club finds himself at the heart of a controversy born of posts and shares on his X account, widely commented on in recent days.
Among the messages singled out is the sharing of a post referring to the supposed existence of “dog-free zones” in England for religious reasons, accompanied by a comment from Guazzini denouncing the country’s “submission” and “cowardice“. Another message relayed a post drawing a link between the election of New York’s first Muslim mayor and the attacks of 11 September 2001.
Obsèques de Brigitte Bardot : "Elle a fait de nous beaucoup de choses (…) Elle était présente devant tous les combats"
— LCI (@LCI) January 7, 2026
L'hommage de Max Guazzini, ami de l'actrice et secrétaire général de la Fondation Brigitte-Bardot pic.twitter.com/gJzlq0E19W
Faced with the controversy, the former Stade Français boss says he deactivated his X account on Wednesday evening after receiving numerous insults. “I was getting insults from people who don’t know me“, he explained to L’Equipe, insisting that the accusations of racism levelled at him are unfounded.
Guazzini also says he has no connection with Éric Zemmour’s Reconquête party and justifies his reactions by his attachment to secularism and to the animal cause, saying he was simply reacting to a piece of information he considered problematic concerning dogs.
“Not racist at all”
The former media executive, who has also been secretary general of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation since 2020, points out that he has supported anti-racist initiatives in the past and insisted that those who know him “know that he is not racist at all“.
The affair comes just days before the Paris municipal elections, scheduled over two rounds on 15 and 22 March, and lands in a particularly tense campaign climate in the capital.
While the accusations continue to fuel political debate, Max Guazzini now intends to take the matter into the courts, hoping to have the criticism of his online positions recognised as defamatory.
Comments