More than 100 writers have resigned from Éditions Grasset, a prestigious French publishing house, in a dramatic protest against its owner, Vincent Bollore, a conservative billionaire. The authors, including acclaimed novelist Virginie Despentes and philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, expressed their refusal to be 'hostages' in what they describe as an ideological war that imposes authoritarianism on culture and media. They announced their departure in an open letter and plan to pursue legal action to reclaim rights to their earlier works published under the Grasset imprint.

The protest was sparked by the forced exit of longtime Grasset chief Olivier Nora, who had been a protective figure against political interference for 26 years. The writers' concerns about Bollore's influence extend to his extensive media holdings, which include Hachette Livre, one of the world's largest publishing conglomerates, and the news channel CNews. Critics argue that his concentration of cultural power threatens democratic discourse, while supporters claim he has diversified viewpoints within French media. The movement has garnered support from authors across the political spectrum, emphasizing the need to prevent the dominance of far-right ideologies in publishing.