On Nouvelle Star, the French version of American Idol, a rapper named JoeyStarr slapped reporter and TV personality Gilles Verdez. The slap reverberated around French social media as outraged fans began to harass… an American comedian?

#TPMP Séquence surréaliste où JoeyStarr gifle Verdez en direct. Hanouna appelle au boycott du rappeur. #NouvelleStar pic.twitter.com/ymMBYDd1JB — Benjamin Rabier ⭐️⭐️ (@benjaminrabier) April 19, 2016

Joe Starr is not JoeyStarr, but that fact has eluded many French Nouvelle Star viewers, who are incensed at the comedian for an assault he had nothing to do with. Starr’s Twitter and Facebook accounts are blowing up, and there’s not a whole lot he can do to stop it.

Apparently a Joe Starr in French did something bad and now French Twitter is real mad at me. Day 2 of French hate. pic.twitter.com/2BeJKCJJX7 — Joe Starr (@joestarr187) April 20, 2016

But, like a true comedian, Starr is going with the flow. He’s begun responding to the haters in broken French, and pretending il est le vrai JoeyStarr.

@lindsaykatai I'm just owning it and arguing in terrible french with them — Joe Starr (@joestarr187) April 20, 2016

@zoelacroche I failed it in college and said 'I'll never need this!' — Joe Starr (@joestarr187) April 20, 2016

So far, he’s expressed his love for berets, slapping female journalists, and the film The Brotherhood of the Wolf. He’s also said that the haters are “jealous of his rap money” and promised to move to Quebec to be with “the real French.”

j'aime rapper , bérets et gifler les femmes journalistes #JoeyStarr — Joe Starr (@joestarr187) April 20, 2016

je suis joey starr et mon film préféré est la fraternité du loup #JoeyStarr — Joe Starr (@joestarr187) April 20, 2016

paysans français stupides ne peuvent pas me déporter . mauvais jamais revenir à Montréal #JoeyStarr — Joe Starr (@joestarr187) April 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/zoelacroche/status/722853109760987136

And, on Wednesday afternoon, things began to escalate:

The people of France demand that Starr (who is not JoeyStarr) apologize or suffer a heinous curse. Will he atone for his actions, or continue to clown on the “stupid French peasants?” Stay tuned.