Obituary: Bernard Tapie, a colourful and controversial French businessman
The entrepreneur, crooner, football magnate and television star, died on October 3rd, aged 78
IN THE SPRING of 1985, Bernard Tapie appeared in a new French television programme, “Le jeu de la vérité” (Game of Truth). It usually starred entertainers such as Alain Delon and Elton John; Mr Tapie was the first businessman to take part. A painful austerity plan was squeezing the economy. On the show he took calls from factory owners who had lost their businesses, from workers cast out of their jobs. None of them could quite believe what had happened. Firm, yet trying to be fair, he listened carefully before replying. And then it was his turn to bare his soul, for intimate revelation was what “Le jeu de la vérité” was really all about.
This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “Coeur de lion”
From the October 9th 2021 edition
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