Stéphane Plaza: His Shows Pulled from Air by M6 After His Conviction

On Tuesday, February 18, the M6 group announced the immediate withdrawal of Stéphane Plaza’s shows following his conviction to one year in prison, suspended, for domestic violence. This decision comes “pending any potential legal developments,” the group stated in a press release. The host has been informed of this decision, marking a major turning point in his television career.

A Conviction That Shakes His Career

Stéphane Plaza was tried for “habitual physical and/or psychological violence by a cohabitant” against two former partners between 2018 and 2022. He was found guilty of the charges involving one of them and acquitted for the other due to insufficient evidence. In addition to his sentence, he has been banned from contacting the victim for three years. The prosecution had requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 10,000 euros.

During the trial, several testimonies highlighted inappropriate behaviors, which reinforced the accusations against him. One of the plaintiffs described repeated episodes of violence, while the host defended his version, downplaying the incidents.

An Appeal Filed and Strong Emotions

The 54-year-old host has decided to appeal the verdict. According to witnesses present in court, he was visibly emotional when the verdict was announced. During his trial, he denied any violence, stating, “I have never been violent in my life” and explaining certain incidents as unintentional accidents.

One of the most striking moments of the trial was his account of an incident where one of the plaintiffs accused him of breaking her finger. Stéphane Plaza argued that it was an accident, explaining that he “could not control his strength.” This argument did not convince the court.

M6 Distances Itself

Following the announcement of the verdict, M6’s management held an emergency meeting and decided to suspend the programs involving Stéphane Plaza. This decision marks a clear distancing of the network from its star host, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. This measure may be extended depending on the result of the appeal.

For now, the host’s flagship shows, such as Recherche appartement ou maison, have been removed from the air. It remains to be seen whether this decision will be final or if Stéphane Plaza will be able to return after his appeal is reviewed by the courts.