Experts say the backlash against Aya Nakamura makes her performance at the Olympics a necessity. "France would lose out if she doesn't perform," argues Libération, pointing to her status as a rare element of French soft power in an English and Spanish-dominated pop world.
Journalist Olivier Cachin agrees. "She has to perform. Her repertoire, Piaf's, Aznavour's, it doesn't matter. She'll be in her right."
Aya Nakamura: Symbol of a Changing France?
For some, Nakamura performing at the Olympics is a vital step in modernizing how France sees itself. It's about acknowledging the contributions of artists from immigrant backgrounds and sending a powerful message against the far-right.
The controversy has revealed uncomfortable truths about French society. It's ignited conversations about race, representation, and what France means in the 21st century. Whether Aya Nakamura takes the Olympic stage or not, she has inadvertently become a symbol of this profound debate, potentially shaping France's future.
