Mayor Anne Hidalgo says Fox News’ recent erroneous reports about the city’s Muslim population went too far and that she’s going to sue the network.
"When we're insulted … then I think we'll have to sue,” Hidalgo told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour “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," Hidalgo said, explaining her decision to seek legal action. When Amanpour asked which specific network the city would target, Hidalgo responded, "Fox News, that's the name."
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) January 20, 2015
Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman assured the BBC that Hidalgo was "definitely serious" about the suit.
"We have our legal advisers working on the case," he said. "We are looking under which jurisdiction to bring the case, Paris or New York."
No-go zones? No such thing
Fox News pundits claimed on-air that whole areas of European cities, and Paris in particular, contained “no-go zones” — areas that were essentially under Muslim control where non-Muslims and police would not enter.
“There are basically neighborhoods where French Muslims have coalesced because they can’t find housing or economic opportunity within the major French cities,” guest Nolan Peterson told Fox News host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Peterson, introduced as a “journalist and veteran,” claimed there were 741 such zones in Paris alone.
“We Deeply Regret the Errors”
The claims, with no basis in fact, were roundly criticized and mocked in American and European media outlets. The backlash was so strong that several Fox News shows aired apologies for the comments.
“To be clear, there is no formal designation of these zones in either country, and no credible information to support the assertion that there are specific areas in these countries that exclude individuals based solely on their religion,” Fox News anchor Julie Banderas said in one of four on-air apologies Fox issued Saturday.
Paris was not the only target of misinformation on Fox News. The network also had to apologize for claims made by guest Steve Emerson, who claimed that the entire city of Birmingham, England was “totally Muslim.”
"When I heard this, frankly, I choked on my porridge, and I thought it must be April Fools' Day," said UK prime minister David Cameron, adding that the commentator was "clearly an idiot."
Emerson later apologized, saying he had made "an inexcusable error."
— InvestigativeProject (@TheIPT) January 12, 2015
Fox responded to Mayor Hidalgo’s lawsuit threat with a statement from Executive Vice President for News Michael Clemente.
"We empathize with the citizens of France as they go through a healing process and return to everyday life," Clemente said. "However, we find the mayor’s comments regarding a lawsuit misplaced."
Laughter is the Best Revenge
Many responded to the "no-go zones" reports with comedy, and Twitter users added their contributions to the conversation under the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts.
— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) January 11, 2015
— Robin Wigglesworth (@RobinWigg) January 11, 2015
— David Jack (@DamJef) January 11, 2015
French satirical program Le Petit Journal shot back with a parody of two terrified Fox News reporters in Paris, including an encounter with “a very dangerous couscous.”
