The CEO of the VRT, Frederik Delaplace, has completely lost it in the cultural world. In an exceptionally sharp letter to the Flemish Minister of Media, Benjamin Dalle (CD&V), more than 200 prominent names from the sector slam the CEO’s intervention last week. And the list is still growing. The CEO then single-handedly deleted The Trial That Nobody Wanted, a documentary about the Bart De Pauw case, from Canvas’ broadcast schedule. He did this to, in his own words, “give every opportunity” to “conversations” between De Pauw and his victims.
“We cannot imagine the number of raised eyebrows from all those people who must have wondered what the link is between imminent apologies and the postponement of a documentary in which the women serenely tell their story,” it said. “We wonder what could be threatening about this in a healing process, unless it is experienced as threatening by the CEO of the public broadcaster himself, of course.”
According to the signatories, someone is being held “a hand over the head”. “But certainly not the women he believes he is protecting, because they were only informed after the postponement of the documentary that it had been postponed. Chivalrous act?”
Soloslim from the CEO
They then criticize that one man has the power to stop a broadcast. “It is unacceptable to us that in a television landscape one person can apparently have the power, for vague reasons, to postpone the broadcast of an important document about transgressive behavior in that same landscape, and who knows, to simply cancel it,” he said. It. “Perhaps Frederik Delaplace comes from a time when he could get away with such vague power grabs, but we hope that the message from the political world to him will be as clear and crystal clear as his message is shadowy and vague.”
At the time of writing, the list already contained more than 200 well-known names and that number continues to rise. We see actresses such as Maaike Neuville, Veerle Baetens and Jennifer Heylen, actors such as Josse De Pauw, Tijmen Govaerts and Sebastien Dewaele. Also directors such as Dominique Deruddere, Stijn Coninx and Michael R. Roskam, screenwriters such as Angelo Tijssens and Raf Njotea, or TV makers such as Elke Neuville and Tom Baeten. It is just a very limited anthology from a very long list.
The list includes well-known TV and radio personalities, some of whom are linked to the VRT itself, such as Fien Germijns, Karine Claassen and Gloria Monserez. This is remarkable, because within the VRT there is a strict gag ban for all employees who are not allowed to talk to journalists. The fear of openly expressing criticism is particularly great.
Iron bundle
The signatories put a series of demands on the table. They call on Flemish Media Minister Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) to intervene. “If it turns out that Frederik Delaplace can get away with such transgressive behavior, then you, Minister Dalle, would have to admit that ultimately, in all the years since #MeToo, very little has changed.”
In addition, they demand that the documentary be broadcast and that transgressive behavior within the VRT is addressed. And not “with the empty words” of Delaplace. They also demand far-reaching transparency. “Is Mr. Delaplace alone in this decision or is he also being held above his head?”
The signatories want the board of directors to provide clarity if necessary. “We, as employees of the public broadcaster’s programs, as taxpayers and as committed creators within the cultural field, will not rest until clarity has been created.”
Expression of support for the victims
The letter ends with an open expression of support for the women who told their stories in the documentary. “We stand behind you like one block. You are not alone,” it sounds. “The courage you have shown in your vulnerability is great. We thank and acknowledge you for that.”
According to the signatories, the VRT has failed miserably in this recognition. “It is no less than a scandal that the public broadcaster does not do this,” it said. “It is no less than a scandal that the VRT sends the message that, if an apology is imminent, the affected women should keep their mouths shut for a while. That is unprecedented, unacceptable and humanly impossible, as far as we are concerned.”