Host Arthur has been promoted to the National Order of the Legion of Honor. Very moved, the television presenter and producer wanted to thank France…
A year that begins under good omens. Host Arthur took to Instagram to break some big news with a lot of emotions, on January 1st. He takes the opportunity to talk about his life, his career and his career in France and even shares an exclusive archive photo of him as a child.
“A huge honor”: Arthur thanks France
After being named Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2010, the famous Franco-Moroccan animator announced on his Instagram account, in the caption of an archive photo: “I just learned that I was promoted to the National Order of the Legion of Honor“. Very moved by this distinction, Arthur says: “It’s a huge honor“because it rewards all his work as “as animator, producer and entrepreneur“, for forty years. In the rest of his message, he pays tribute to his dear country: “I will never forget what France did for me. From the outstretched hand in 1967 to the doors it has opened to me throughout my life. France changed my destiny. A France that taught me so much, gave me so much and to which I try to give back a little more every day.“. He ends these few words with a simple “Thanks“, which says a lot.
A special history with France
In this same message which accompanies a black and white photo of the child animator, he looks back on his history with the country, on his personal life, the stages which brought him to where he is today and on his career. He begins humbly by recalling his real name: “My name is Jacques Essebag, you know me under the pseudonym of Arthur“. Then he tells his story with his tragic beginnings : “I was born in Casablanca in 1966. In 1967 during the six-day war, my family left Morocco within 24 hours. Without anything“.
He then explains the origin of all his gratitude towards France: “We were welcomed in France in Massy. I spent my childhood there. The school, the summer camp, the artistic, sporting and educational activities were available free of charge for all (…) And it was even thanks to the town hall that I learned and got my first job as a radio presenter. I was 16“, says Arthur. He then goes on to explain:40 years of work later, I have become the one you all know. Host, producer and entrepreneur“, several decades of work that led him to be honored at the national level.
