Jimmy Mohamed, the French doctor and television presenter who stepped back from France Télévisions' health programme Le Mag de la santé this summer, broke his silence for the first time on Tuesday, September 15, over his absence from the show.
The 39-year-old, who had been due to co-host the programme alongside Flavie Flament this autumn, addressed the situation in a story posted to his Instagram account, responding to a message from a disappointed viewer.
Allegations from his ex-wife
In early July, Mohamed decided to withdraw from screen duties after allegations made by his ex-wife, Souailla, who has twice accused him since December of psychological and physical violence amid their conflictual separation.
Souailla has not filed a formal police complaint, but the Versailles judicial court took up the case this summer. An investigation was entrusted to the criminal investigation unit in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, covering allegations that include violence against a partner.
"What a waste"
The viewer who prompted Mohamed's reply wrote that the show was poor next to his, that its hosts were not great, that they no longer enjoyed it at all, and that everyone was disappointed.
Mohamed replied that he would not post all the messages he kept receiving, but that it really was a waste. He gave no further detail about his future at France Télévisions.
This summer, following the domestic violence allegations, the broadcaster indicated that a return to the screen remained possible if the investigation were dropped without further action.
Flament now hosts alone
In the meantime, Flavie Flament has presented Le Mag de la santé on her own since September 7, joined by doctors Diana Kadouch and Gilbert Bou Jaoudé and by columnist Rym Ben Ameur. The programme, previously broadcast on France 5, also changed channel this season, moving to France 2.
In its first week, the show drew an average of 457,000 viewers, a 9.2% audience share, down from 665,000 viewers the previous season. The figures nonetheless remain close to those Le Mag de la santé achieved when it aired on France 5.
Also dropped from Saturday show
Mohamed keeps his regular column on RTL's breakfast programme, but has also been removed from Ça va beaucoup mieux, the Saturday morning show he had co-hosted with Flament for three seasons.
Flament, who is now fronting Le Mag de la santé solo, has also featured in a string of other recent headlines involving France Télévisions and the singer Patrick Bruel.
