Rabat – The organizers of the Moroccan annual comedy festival Marrakech Du Rire have announced the postponement of the event’s 2023 edition “due to the inability to receive spectators in Badii Palace this year.”
Badii Palace in the red city of Marrakech is currently undergoing restoration works, “preventing the reception of the public at this period,” said the organizers in a press release on Thursday night.
The festival’s organizers regretted postponing the international event, attributing their decision to their strong “attachment to the identity of Marrakech Du Rire.” Since its inauguration in 2011, the festival has always been held at the Badii Palace, making it part of Marrakech Du Rire’s identity.
“No other site can able to replace this emblematic place which witnessed the birth and growth of the Festival,” indicated the statement.
French-Moroccan comedian and creator of the festival Jamel Debbouze expressed, alongside the Marrakech Du Rire team, their deepest thanks to the public for their loyalty, concluded the statement.
The comedy festival, which is the largest in the French-speaking world, brings together some of the most renowned Francophone comedians in the world. It includes shows in both French and Arabic, appealing to both locals and foreigners.
Badii Palace Restoration Work or Jamel Debbouze Controversy?
The news of the festival’s postponement came months after Debbouze came under fire for supporting France during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, causing many to call for a boycott of the upcoming edition of the comedian’s festival.
In an interview with BeIN Sports, the comedian said that he was torn between supporting either Morocco or France if they were to face each other in the tournament. “It would be like if my father played against my mother,” he joked.
France’s Les Bleus ended up locking horns with Morocco’s Atlas Lions in the World Cup semi-final, with Debbouze wearing a T-shirt showing half a Moroccan jersey and half a French jersey and cheering for both squads.
Jamel Debbouze wearing a T-shirt showing half a Moroccan jersey and half a French jersey at the Qatar World Cup. Photo credit: BeIN Sports
Debbouze, who was born in Paris to Moroccan parents, faced immense backlash from Moroccans, who criticized him for not fully supporting Morocco. The incident came at a time when political tension had been growing between Rabat and Paris.
“It’s either black or white but never grey my friend,” said a Moroccan social media user, arguing that Debbouze should either fully support Morocco or France, not both.
Other angry social media users echoed the same sentiment: “Go do Marrakech Du Rure in Paris now. Gad Elmaleh supported Morocco even though he’s French too. You’re either with us or against us,” said another Moroccan netizen.
While Debbouze was torn between supporting Morocco or France at the World Cup, the decision has been easy for French-Moroccan comedian Gad Elmaleh, who chose to fully support the Moroccan national team at the tournament.
“I support Morocco, I support my country of birth,” he said in an interview with RMC.
