Canadian journalist placed on leave after antisemitic remarks on live radio

A Canadian journalist has been placed on indefinite leave after making antisemitic remarks during a live French-language broadcast, saying that Israelis and Jews finance a lot of American politics and that Hollywood and major U.S. cities are “run by Jews.” The comments were made while she was discussing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel amid the war in Gaza. The incident prompted swift condemnation from Radio-Canada, which said the remarks contravene the broadcaster’s journalistic standards and do not reflect the position of the public broadcaster.

Élisa Serret, a journalist with Radio-Canada, made the remarks during a Monday live segment. She argued that Jewish influence extended to American politics and popular culture, stating that “the Israelis, in fact the Jews, finance a lot of American politics” and that Hollywood and several U.S. cities were “run by Jews.” The discussion centered on Rubio’s trip to the Jewish state and whether America had distanced itself from Israel in response to the Gaza war.

The broadcaster confirmed to outlets that Serret has been relieved of her duties while an internal review is conducted. Radio-Canada issued a statement apologizing for the comments and condemning them as unacceptable. “These unacceptable comments contravene Radio-Canada’s Journalistic Standards and Practices and in no way reflect the opinion of the public broadcaster,” the network said. “As a result, the news department has decided to relieve the journalist of her duties until further notice.”

The episode drew condemnation from Canadian Jewish advocacy groups. The Quebec chapter of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) labeled Serret’s remarks antisemitic and said they spread misinformation. Eta Yudin, CIJA’s vice president in Quebec, said the broadcaster took “the only appropriate course of action” by placing Serret on leave and urged CBC/Radio-Canada to address not only the individual comments but also the systemic issues that could allow such rhetoric to air. “We expect Canada’s national public broadcaster to recognize this reality and to take concrete steps to ensure that neither such comments – nor the systemic issues that enabled them to be aired – are ever allowed again on Canadian airwaves,” Yudin said.

Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault weighed in after the broadcast, saying that antisemitism has no place in Canada. In a post on X, he described the on-air statements as pernicious antisemitic tropes and emphasized that such language has no place on Canadian airwaves. He added that when antisemitic language is used by journalists, or anyone in a position of trust, it risks normalizing hatred in dangerous ways.

The incident has drawn attention to how public broadcasters handle reliability, bias, and harmful stereotypes in coverage of international conflicts. Radio-Canada, part of the publicly funded Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), said it is reviewing its journalistic standards enforcement in light of the remarks and reiterated that the views expressed by Serret do not reflect those of the organization. The Globe and Mail reported the initial action and described the remarks as “stereotypical, antisemitic, erroneous and prejudicial.” The CBC and Radio-Canada have faced ongoing public scrutiny over how they govern editorial independence and accountability when staff make offensive or discriminatory statements.

The broader context includes ongoing international discourse about antisemitism in media and politics, particularly in relation to coverage of the Gaza conflict and U.S.-Israel relations. While the remarks were made in a Canadian outlet, they touched on sensitive global topics, including perceptions of influence in American politics and entertainment. Critics have warned that repeating or reframing antisemitic tropes can contribute to a climate of hatred and discrimination, underscoring the importance of clear policies and swift responses from public institutions.

As the review proceeds, Serret remains off the air while Radio-Canada determines next steps. The broadcaster has not announced a timeline for a potential return or for any additional disciplinary measures beyond the current leave. In the meantime, the episode has reignited discussions about media responsibility, accountability for public figures, and the ongoing commitments of public broadcasters to uphold standards that protect against hate speech and stereotypes.