Squeezie, the second most followed YouTuber in France (19 million subscribers), warned on Friday against the “drastic rise of the far right”, following in the footsteps of many influential figures who are calling for mobilization for the parliamentary elections.
“Go to the polls on June 30th and July 7th and remember that voting for a party that promotes hatred, discrimination and fear of others has never been the answer,” he wrote to his 8.7 million followers on Instagram. “The RN won’t help you,” he also warned.
“(With) what proposals are we making, does Squeezie disagree?” reacted Jordan Bardella, traveling to Loiret. “He doesn’t want to increase purchasing power? He doesn’t want to restore security?”
“Squeezie has every right to his position, but we have to respect the French,” added the president of the National Rally.
Real name Lucas Hauchard, Squeezie, 28, is usually very discreet about his political views.
But following the RN’s victory in the European elections on Sunday, many fans took to social media to take to the views of the highly popular content creator.
“I never wanted to talk about politics with you (…) because everyone is the master of their beliefs and I don’t want mine to affect yours,” he wrote. “But I think standing firmly against an extreme ideology that advocates hatred and discrimination goes beyond taking any political stance.”
– Big movement –
In his lengthy message posted on his “xsqueezie” account, the content creator denounces the “dangers and serious consequences of a far-right party coming to power” and condemns the “intense propaganda supported by certain media”.
“So, yes, in recent years the RN has managed to polish its image and pretend that it’s not a far-right party,” he emphasizes, before adding: “there’s no shame in falling for that.” But “it’s never too late to rethink things and change your thinking”
Two hours after it was posted online, his message had almost 750,000 +likes+.
Other influencers have passed it on, like videographers Cyprien and Sofyan, who have 14.5 and 2.2 million YouTube subscribers respectively.
Since Sunday evening, many content creators have taken to the networks to call on their audiences to mobilize. A movement that started timidly, but is gaining momentum.
“That’s why we have to go vote on June 30,” French influencer star Léna Situations (4.6 million subscribers) shared on Instagram on Tuesday in response to a racist message, while videographer Mister V called on his 6.3 million subscribers ” to go and vote – and of course, not for the crappy ‘fafs’ (fascists, editor’s note).
The first French YouTuber, Tibo InShape, regularly accused of promoting conservative or even far-right positions, on Tuesday defended the tricolor, which, according to him, has nothing to do with “political views”.
– “Snowball Effect” –
If influencers are usually reluctant to engage politically, for fear of offending a segment of their audience or tarnishing their image with brands, Squeezie’s appearance could encourage others to engage publicly.
Launched by Perrineam, an agency that supports web creators, a group of influencers is also being formed to create and share political content ahead of the election.
According to Perrina Bon, its founder, several hundred of them contacted her to join this initiative. “There was a snowball effect,” one who believes certain creators are not speaking out immediately because they are afraid of “talking nonsense” or lack of legitimacy, explained to AFP on Tuesday.
About sixty of them also published an article on Thursday in Le Nouvel Obs, warning of the “coming of the extreme right to power”.
Among the signatories are videographers Manon Bril and Hugo Tout Seul, artist Math C. and singer Pomme.
AFP