While riots are still raging in France as a result of the police shooting of a teenage delivery driver, President Emmanuel Macron has angered some by attending an Elton John performance in Paris. Numerous people have been detained as a result of the violent protests that have taken place over the previous four days.
The riots started on Tuesday when a police officer in Nanterre, west of Paris, shot and killed Nahel M. during a traffic stop. Reuters claims that when the teenager was stopped for driving in the bus lane during a traffic jam, he refused to show his driving license and then attempted to flee.
According to the Nanterre public prosecutor, the officer shot the boy in the left arm and chest out of concern that he would launch a car chase and hurt other people. According to the police, Nahel M. had a history of disobeying traffic stops. “He had to be stopped, but obviously (the officer) didn’t want to kill the driver,” the police officer’s lawyer said.
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Macron and his wife Brigitte attended the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour of British artist Elton John at the Accor Arena in Paris despite the fact that hundreds of people had been arrested and fires were raging on French streets. The 76-year-old pianist played well-known songs including “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and “Burn Down the Mission” while the President was captured on camera tapping his foot in time.
David Furnish, the spouse of Elton John, shared a picture of the couple meeting Macron on Instagram, but the image has now been taken down. One commenter said that the post was “wrong timing,” and another said that “Macron is below everything.” A third commenter pulled no punches saying, “At the same time a child was killed by police under his government, he’s enjoying a show. Disgrace on Macron.”
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According to Fox News, National Rally Party minister Thierry Mariani called Macron’s attendance “totally irresponsible” and said that even when “France was on fire, Macron preferred to applaud Elton John.” Mariani even cited the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, saying, “Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child,” according to the Independent.
