France Culture drops Étienne Klein after plagiarism scandal

Radio France has announced, through its ombudsman, that it will not renew the program of science philosopher Étienne Klein for the September 2026 season. This decision follows the revocation of Klein's doctorate by Paris Cité University due to plagiarisms identified in his thesis. Klein had been a prominent figure on France Culture for many years, hosting popular science and philosophy shows.

The plagiarism allegations first emerged in academic circles, prompting a thorough investigation by the university. The investigation found that Klein's doctoral thesis, written in the 1990s, contained unauthorized quotations from multiple sources without proper attribution. This was deemed a serious violation of academic ethics.

The university's decision marks a significant turning point in Klein's career. Although he had faced similar accusations before, he had never encountered such severe sanctions. France Culture's decision to cancel his program is seen as an effort to protect the public broadcaster's reputation.

The incident has sparked widespread debate in France about academic integrity and media ethics. Some argue that the punishment is too harsh given Klein's past achievements, while others insist that plagiarism is unacceptable and institutions must take a firm stance against such violations.

Klein's lawyer has announced plans to appeal the decision and initiate legal proceedings. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether France Culture will replace the program with a new one. The controversy continues to be discussed in media and academic circles.