Lawmaker’s office deletes TikTok video that “may have offended people.”
A member of the European Parliament from The Left group was accused of making a “disrespectful” joke about dementia by Alzheimer Europe on Wednesday.
In a now-deleted TikTok video, French MEP Leïla Chaibi was seen discarding correspondence from France Alzheimer, before quipping that she “forgot” about it.
Alzheimer Europe’s Executive Director Jean Georges said that “it is extremely disappointing to see this kind of disrespectful ‘joke.’”
“France Alzheimer and all our national member organizations fight stigma and misconceptions about dementia on a daily basis and try to ensure that people with dementia and their families get the support and respect they need and deserve,” he added.
Contacted by POLITICO, a representative from Chaibi’s office said they “sincerely regret that these remarks, which were the result of a clumsy joke, may have offended people with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones.”
“This was obviously not our intention. We fully appreciate the pain and difficulties this disease inflicts on a daily basis, and have therefore removed the video,” the representative added, while inviting the president of France Alzheimer to a meeting.
