I’m going to say some heavy words…
Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge recently sat down with Isabelle Maréchal on QUB, as he edges back into the scene with his own platform and new projects. They revisited the controversy that had pushed him out of the industry.
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He admitted that, perhaps unconsciously, he had created this controversy to self-sabotage and eject himself from the industry, because he believed he had played a “game” for too long with which he no longer felt comfortable, but today he’s more at ease voicing his opinions, criticizing, and launching his own ventures.
He says that, even though he has never been someone very fearless, fear is far less present in his life today.
The Showbiz Version of the “Soft Mafia”
“(…) The media game is a bit like (…) I’m going to say some heavy words,” Guillaume says, and when he announces he will utter heavy words, one can’t help but tense up a little, considering how much the last time cost him.
“But it’s like a little mafia inside the cotton wool… there’s no gunfire, we don’t shoot each other, we don’t erase one another, but we do erase each other,” he asserts.
“You mean it’s a clique?” the host asks.
“I’m not saying it’s a clique, I’m saying it’s organized, and if you’re part of the right gang, well, you’ll have a career—perhaps a more comfortable one. If you’re part of the wrong gang, it’ll be a bit tougher; you know that. For me, this isn’t aligned with the core values I hold. I respect people for their skills, for who they are; that comes from working on a proper film set, where we honor each other’s abilities and move in the same direction. In this environment, it’s as if elbows are used, and I never liked that.
“You weren’t well,” summarizes Isabelle.
A Double Standard?
“No, and I’ve always done my things on my own. I was very happy to be a spokesperson with Hyundai, I was thrilled to host Chanteurs masqués, and I enjoyed making action films and comedies here in Quebec—it was extraordinary. But this kind of pressure, of not being able to be completely oneself in a space that promotes truth, transparency, and honesty, well, it felt like a double standard that didn’t fit anymore, at least that’s how I understood it. Because, ultimately, I didn’t want to lose my job. I didn’t want to cause anxiety for my wife or my kids… it’s disgusting to live through, not pleasant at all, not a path anyone would want. But when you go through it, and when people tell you: You’re this, you’re that, you’re eliminated and you’re dangerous, and you end up paying more than someone who might have committed a serious crime,’ he continues.
Recall that it was in early December 2025 that the actor fallen from favor announced, or rather proposed, a new project—a move that seems to signal a clear intention to relaunch his career.
A new platform named Télévision Générale… and a four-hour on-stage meet-and-greet. Here’s hoping there’s an intermission.
In the end, if he sees the industry as a soft mafia, Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge has clearly chosen his side: the one where he sits as the godfather… of his own projects.
Or perhaps he forced the industry to pick sides for him…
This content was created with the help of AI.
