Modernised version of Beauty and the Beast causes uproar

Modernised version of Beauty and the Beast causes uproar - A modernized version of Beauty and the Beast has caused controversy in France, leading the Ministry of Education to cancel 800,000 copies of the book. The book's author and illustrator, Jul (Julien Berjeaux), criticized the decision, calling it "censorship" based on "false pretexts." The modernized tale, aimed at fifth-grade students, included depictions of Beauty's father drinking and references to social media, which the ministry deemed too adult for children aged 10-11. The ministry argued that the themes of alcohol, social media, and complex social issues were more appropriate for older students. Jul, however, defended his work, claiming that the book was playful and magical, and suggesting the real issue was the modern depiction of the characters, which might not align with traditional views. Despite this, the book had been approved by the Ministry of Education, with Minister Elisabeth Borne praising its "new modernity" in the preface. The cancellation came just before the printing was to begin, and the Ministry of Education announced that another book from a previous year’s initiative would be distributed instead.

Last local news

French and Riviera News Thursday 19th June 2025

A major police stop-and-search operation along France's borders is being carried out today, involving 4,000 police officers, gendarmes and customs off... French and Riviera News Thursday 19th June 2025 Read More

19/06/2025

Evening Update Wednesday 18th June 2025

SFR has announced automatic compensation of 100GB of free mobile data for affected customers following a major network outage on the 16th of June.... Evening Update Wednesday 18th June 2025 Read More

18/06/2025

French and Riviera News Wednesday 18th June 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a high-level Security and Defence Council meeting at the Élysée Palace today Wednesday, June 18th at 4pm, ... French and Riviera News Wednesday 18th June 2025 Read More

18/06/2025

Weather Forecast - Wednesday 18th June 2025

Fine and sunny with light winds. Highs of 28 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 27 degrees in Saint-Tropez, 29 degrees in Toulon. ... Weather Forecast - Wednesday 18th June 2025 Read More

18/06/2025

Evening Update Tuesday 17th June 2025

A French man from Nice, Pierre Mario, is stranded in Tel Aviv with his wife and 11-year-old child due to the closure of Israeli airspace amid the Iran... Evening Update Tuesday 17th June 2025 Read More

17/06/2025