Journalist faces calls to be sacked for racism after saying 'They are burying their

Pokemons'

 BFMTV and business journalist Emmanuel Lechypre are branded 'insensitive'

Lechypre admitted his comments were 'totally inappropriate' amid the outrage  He
said he didn't realise his microphone was switched on at the time  By Liz Perkins
For Mailonline Published: 14:33 EDT, 4 April 2020 | Updated: 21:14 EDT, 4 April
2020 AN under-fire French journalist is facing calls to be fired after being
slammed as racist for whispering 'they are burying the Pokemons' during coverage of
China's day of mourning for coronavirus victims. BFMTV and its business journalist
Emmanuel Lechypre were blasted as 'shockingly insensitive' on social media as he
made the remark over the three-minute silence, which was held right across China.
The rolling news channel was forced to apologise on Saturday in the wake of the
outrage. So far 3,300 have died after the pandemic swept the country, according to
official figures. Lechyre also said he was sorry as he failed to realise his
microphone was switched on. Racist: Business reporter Emmanuel Lechypre sparked
outrage after whispering 'they are burying the Pokemons' during a tribute to the
Chinese coronavirus dead Regret: Lechypre said his comments were 'inappropriate'
and he thought the microphone was switched off Remembering the dead: An emotional
man sheds tears for the coronavirus victims who died in Wuhan, Hubei Province  'I
allowed myself to say something totally inappropriate, thinking that the
microphones were off. I am very sorry.' Channel boss Marc-Olivier Fogiel said he
was sorry to viewers but it is uncertain what action will be taken
against Lechypre. Calls have been made on social media for him to be sacked but
other commentators made the point that Pokemon are Japanese in origin. 
Devastated: Medical workers of Leishenshan Hospital pay a silent tribute to martyrs
who died in the battle to aid patients with deadly Covid-19 Paying tribute: Drivers
can sound their horns and observed a moment of silence on China's roads In
salute: A man wearing a face mask salutes during a ceremony where the Chinese
national flag is positioned at half-mast, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing as China,
in a mark of respect to the dead Paying respect: A Chinese man wearing a protective
mask reacts during national mourning to mourn victims of COVID-19 in Tienanmen
Square in Beijing, China Remembering the martyrs: Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li
Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan, as well as
other Party and state leaders stand in silent respect President Xi Jinping lead the
tribute, which led the country to come to a halt, with cars, trains and ships
sounded their horns, and air-raid sirens wailed. Beijing said it was an opportunity
to mourn virus 'martyrs' –an honorific title bestowed by the government this week
on 14 medical workers who died fighting the outbreak – including the doctor who
raised the alarm was punished for 'rumour-mongering.' China was the first country
to suffer the outbreak of coronavirus, which has globally infected more than 1
million people and claimed the lives of more than 60,000 people devastating the
economy worldwide. But the country appears to have the outbreak under control. 
Infection rates: More than a million cases of coronavirus have been reported
globally with more than 64,000 deaths Advertisement Share or comment on this
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"They're Burying Pokémons" Jibe During Chinese Coronavirus Tribute Causes Uproar In
France

French journalist Emmanuel Lechypre has apologised after making a jibe about
"Burying Pokémons" during BFM TV's coverage of China's day of mourning for
coronavirus victims. The business reporter made the comment on Saturday as the
channel was broadcasting live footage of a three-minute silence observed across
China. During the video segment, Lechypre was heard to whisper "they are burying
the Pokémons", unaware that his microphone was live and his comment was transmitted
on air. Lechypre's apology has done little to pacify those who have complained
about the comment: This morning on BFM TV, I allowed myself a totally inappropriate
remark during the broadcast of a tribute to the victims of the virus in China.
These inappropriate comments were broadcast on the air when I thought the
microphones were closed. I sincerely apologize. BFM TV boss Marc-Olivier Fogiel has
also apologised to viewers, but many have taken to social media demanding that
Lechypre lose his job over the comment, which some have branded as racist. It goes
without saying that Pokémon originates not from China, but from Japan, which gives
this complaint some weight.

French Channel Sorry For "Burying Pokemons" Swipe At China Amid COVID-19

People pay tribute as China holds national mourning who died of the coronavirus.
Paris: A French rolling news channel was forced to apologise on Saturday after one
of its reporters was heard to whisper "they are burying the Pokemons" during
coverage of China's day of mourning for coronavirus victims. BFMTV and its
journalist Emmanuel Lechypre were lambasted as racist and "shockingly insensitive"
on social media after the business reporter made the comment over live footage of
the three-minute silence observed across China. Some 3,300 people have died in the
pandemic in China, which first appeared there in December, according to official
figures. Lechypre later apologised, saying that he did not know his microphone was
turned on. "I allowed myself to say something totally inappropriate, thinking that
the microphones were off. I am very sorry." The channel's boss Marc-Olivier Fogiel
also apologised to viewers, although it remains unclear whether Lechypre will be
sanctioned. Many on social media called for his sacking, with others pointing out
that Pokemon characters are in fact Japanese. The Chinese homage was led by
President Xi Jinping, with the entire country coming to a halt as cars, trains and
ships sounded their horns, and air-raid sirens wailed. Beijing said the tribute was
a chance to mourn virus "martyrs" -- an honorific title bestowed by the government
this week on 14 medical workers who died fighting the outbreak -- including the
doctor who was punished by officials for raising the alarm. The COVID-19 epidemic
began in China and has gone on to infect at least 1.1 million people worldwide,
bringing the global economy to a shuddering halt. The country now appears to be
over the worst of the outbreak. (Except for the headline, this story has not been
edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)