Canadian reporter suspended for on-air antisemitic remarks

Radio-Canada apologized after Élisa Serret commented that the Jews control American politics, big cities and Hollywood.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

A Canadian reporter was suspended Tuesday for antisemitic remarks she made on air the previous day, with her government employer apologizing for the comments.

When asked on a French-language news show why the Trump administration has not distanced itself from Jerusalem over the IDF’s attempted assassination of top Hamas officials in Doha last week, Élisa Serret replied, “The Israelis, in fact the Jews, finance a lot of American politics” and control a “big machine.”

She then added that big cities “and Hollywood” are “run by Jews.”

Radio-Canada, the French arm of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) quickly distanced itself from her words, calling them “stereotypical, antisemitic, erroneous and prejudicial allegations against Jewish communities.”

“These unacceptable comments contravene Radio-Canada‘s Journalistic Standards and Practices and in no way reflect the opinion of the public broadcaster. As a result, the news department has decided to relieve the journalist of her duties until further notice,” the statement said.

“We are aware that these comments have offended many viewers. We sincerely apologize and regret this.”

Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault, whose office oversees public broadcasting, unequivocally condemned Serret, saying the journalist had used “pernicious antisemitic tropes” that “have absolutely no place on Canadian airwaves.”

When this kind of language is used by journalists or “anyone in a position of trust, it risks normalizing hatred in deeply dangerous ways,” he said.

Opposition MP Melissa Lantsman, deputy head of the Conservative Party, called for Serret to be fired outright, while slamming the government-backed media for encouraging antisemitism by allowing it on air.

“Overt antisemitism on TV is part of the deep systemic rot corroding our society, and it flourishes when tax-funded institutions provide it with a platform,” she said.

The Quebec chapter of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) applauded Radio-Canada for suspending Serret over her “vile antisemitic comments,” which the Canadian Jewish rights advocacy group had publicized.

That was not enough, however, said Eta Yudin, the chapter’s vice president.

“Antisemitism is corroding the fabric of our society,” she said. “We expect Canada’s national public broadcaster to recognize this reality and to take concrete steps to ensure that neither such comments—nor the systemic issues that enabled them to be aired—are ever allowed again on Canadian airwaves.”

Jews were the most targeted religious group in the country in 2024, with 6,219 antisemitic incidents recorded, according to an April report by B’nai Brith Canada.

That marked a 7% increase over the previous year’s record high, driven largely by reactions to the Israel-Hamas war, which set off a global wave of antisemitism.

B’nai Brith called on the CBC to “issue an on-air correction and apology, making clear that these statements are false, hateful, and unacceptable,” clarify what measures will be taken to prevent such occurrences in the future, and implement mandatory training on antisemitism for all relevant staff members.