Paris (AFP)

In the turmoil for months due to accusations of plagiarism, Gad Elmaleh finally recognized Wednesday "a part of real" in these attacks that have put a spotlight on the not always brilliant practices of the world of stand-up.

"So, when the stand-up came, with my generation, we were inspired by the Americans?" Admits the Parisian big fan of the American Jerry Seinfeld.

"A 30 minute show over twenty or thirty hours of shows that I have done in my life, it does not summarize my career," pleaded the comedian, one of the most appreciated in France, who also works for some years in the United States.

This is the first time he has bluntly acknowledged - albeit at least - what people have seen months ago with CopyComic videos. Behind this avatar, hides Ben, a surfer who keeps anonymity who says rely on his memory, his DVD and YouTube to pin the alleged authors of plagiarism.

Among them, Tomer Sisley, Jamel Debbouze, Michael Youn and of course, Gad Elmaleh, to whom he dedicated two special videos ("the gaderies") released in early 2019 and viewed respectively by 2.1 and 1.3 million people.

These videos caused an earthquake in the very competitive stand-up environment, between those evoking an open secret, those indignant about the lack of ethics of the profession and those preferring to minimize as Manu Payet.

"It's expensive paid, for something that boils down to 10-15 minutes of valves over 25 years of career," had argued that "friend" Gad Elmaleh a few days ago in Paris.

In Canada, where he began his career, a small cabaret in Montreal decided to "ban" Gad Elmaleh to "protect (other) comedians and creators."

- Fault half forgiven? -

Faced with controversy, the comic who plays in a series inspired by his life on Netflix ("Huge in France", the mixed reception) was content to replicate under the features of his favorite character Chouchou ... "Qu 'They all go well ... cajole', he had launched in mid-February in a video to his fans.

An intervention that had not calmed people's minds. On the contrary. The situation had escalated, with threats of legal action, magazine coverage and "squabble" between comedians to identify who is behind CopyComic.

Admitting loans, Gad Elmaleh calmed his peers a little as Muriel Robin, who had not spared him by speaking of "intellectual theft".

"I think it's good that he recognized, I did not understand the defense that led him to deny when there's evidence to that extent, I've never done that in my life. he is not the only one ... ", she told AFP Wednesday. "It's very forgivable if it's admitted," she added. On the web, the tone was sometimes less conciliatory, with Anonymous surfers reassembled to block.

The comedian promised that it would not be taken over, promising a new one-man-show "100% Gad", which will also evoke the issue of plagiarism, "in a funny way, honest", as well as the report to the media and social networks.

If it was again, "I do not do it again, but I do not regret it because I have never been in a malicious approach". "I have relationships with those I have inspired, no one has ever complained," he says, insisting on the violence of a polemic, in his eyes, excessive.

"There was a base of aggressiveness, a desire to harm" Nobody wants to be displayed in the press as someone who has stolen, "he says, without naming, to the address of CopyComic. Very little present on social networks since the summer, the latter did not respond to the solicitations of AFP Wednesday.

© 2019 AFP