Laurent Ruquier, the renowned French television host, has found himself on the wrong end of the law after four years of intense legal struggles with his former producer, Catherine Barma. A ruling handed down by the Paris appellate court on January 27, 2025, condemned Ruquier to pay 1.5 million euros to Barma, adding yet another chapter to their tumultuous relationship.
The courtroom battle traces back to the abrupt halt of the popular talk show "On n'est pas couché," which Ruquier hosted from 2006 until its cancellation mid-2020. After the show's end, Ruquier took Barma to court, claiming she owed him more than 315,000 euros for unpaid work. "Catherine Barma did not pay me for the last weeks of filming. She has not spoken to me since March 2020," Ruquier told TVMag at the time.
On the other side of the legal fence, Barma fired back with her own lawsuit, accusing Ruquier of “abusive contract termination.” She argued compellingly about how the sudden cancellation of the show led to economic layoffs affecting around thirty staff members. Reports have indicated Barma sought approximately 3 million euros to cover these costs and the fallout resulting from their fractured partnership.
Initially, the commercial court ruled against Ruquier, imposing nearly 1 million euros in damages due to what it termed the “brutal termination of their commercial relationship.” The court found Ruquier’s actions had caused significant economic damages to Barma’s production company. This original ruling laid the groundwork for the appeal, which Ruquier pursued unsuccessfully.
Fast-forward to January 2025, and the appellate court not only reaffirmed the earlier verdict but increased Ruquier's financial responsibility by 40,000 euros. The court ruled he must pay 780,340 euros for insufficient notice of termination and recalibrated the compensation for layoffs from 219,375 euros to 452,689 euros due to the abrupt nature of their split. The continuing escalation of claimed damages paints a stark picture of the financial strain on both parties throughout the legal confrontation.
Post-verdict, Ruquier expressed his displeasure, lamenting, "I was tricked contractually by Mrs. Barma," indicating his disappointment with the legal outcome but not expressly stating any intention to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Barma remained tight-lipped about the ruling, opting not to comment publicly.
This recent ruling caps over two decades of collaboration between Ruquier and Barma, who had co-produced several popular programs. Their partnership yielded substantial financial success, yet the ending of "On n'est pas couché" was fraught with tension, originally fueled by waning viewership and controversies surrounding individual episodes. Both parties publicly aired grievances, making headlines before resorting to legal solutions.
The fallout from their split highlights broader issues within the entertainment industry, especially concerning contract enforcement and the responsibilities of producers and hosts when relationships sour. The financial stakes were high, spurring legal action as their once-celebrated partnership evolved from admiration to animosity.
Looking for resolution, Ruquier now faces the decision of whether to comply with the court's ruling or pursue additional legal recourse. Despite his earlier bravado, his options appear limited, signaling the end of his drawn-out feud with Barma.
The legal drama surrounding Laurent Ruquier and Catherine Barma shines a light on the often rocky relationships behind the scenes of television productions and the complex legal obligations at play. With both figures now part of legal history, observers of the French media scene are left to ponder the consequences of their turbulent end.