The mayor of Paris said the city will sue Fox News for its “insulted” and “prejudiced” portrayal of the city, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour reported on Twitter today.
In an 11:44 AM tweet, Amanpour reported
BREAKING: Paris is going to sue @FoxNews after image of Paris was “insulted” and “prejudiced,” Mayor @Anne_Hidalgo tells me.
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) January 20, 2015
The mayor, Anne Hidalgo, re-tweeted Amanpour’s announcement of the planned lawsuit. In an interview with Amanpour, Hidalgo said, according to a CNN news report,
“When we’re insulted, and when we’ve had an image, then I think we’ll have to sue, I think we’ll have to go to court, in order to have these words removed. The image of Paris has been prejudiced, and the honor of Paris has been prejudiced.”
The director of communications for the city of paris, Nadhéra Beletreche, told iMediaEthics by e-mail: “Yes, Anne Hidalgo intend to sue Fox News for its reporting on Paris. I do not have details for tonight.”
Politico indicated that Fox News’ false reporting on “no-go zones” in Paris where only Muslims are allowed.
As iMediaEthics has written, Fox News apologized this weekend for that false reporting, which it called “regrettable errors.”
“We deeply regret the errors and apologize to any and all who may have taken offense, including the people of France and England,” Fox News’ Julie Banderas said Jan. 17.
iMediaEthics has written to Fox News to ask for comment on the reports that Paris wants to sue it.
UPDATE: 1/20/2015 4:52 A Fox News spokesperson sent iMediaethics the following statement from Fox News Executive Vice President, News Michael Clemente: “We empathize with the citizens of France as they go through a healing process and return to everyday life. However, we find the Mayor’s comments regarding a lawsuit misplaced.”