Quebec comedian Dan Gagnon made his career in Belgium for several years. Radio, stand-up, animation, writing for fellow comedians: the 39-year-old comedian – who recently found himself at the center of a controversy on RTBF radio – intends to continue his career on the other side of the Atlantic, while always staying with himself.
On stage, as in life, Dan Gagnon says what’s on his mind without rushing the gun. This is what the comedian, born near Thetford Mines, did with his radio chronicles until recently on the morning show Leéveil de Tipik, broadcast by RTBF, the Belgian radio-television of the French Community, the Belgian public broadcaster.
His most recent column on the boycott of the World Cup in Qatar attracted a great deal of attention. The comedian, who created the web series Almost normal for RTBF in 2015, denounced the inhumane conditions and deaths of 6,300 migrant workers building sports stadiums in Qatar. Without forgetting to point the finger at the official broadcaster of the World Cup: RTBF! On air, his colleagues laughed out loud and even cried out “Adieu Dan” at the end of his intervention, suspecting they would not see him on the air again.
The comedian will have turned in six chronicles before leaving the network. Does his departure have anything to do with his denunciation of the public network? “They couldn’t tell me I couldn’t, but I understood that it bothered them,” replies Dan Gagnon, who eventually made the decision to leave the show, evoking a “stuck in a point de négo.” his Twitter account.
“Let’s say they didn’t try to hold me back after four, five days of round-trip travel, when I said I was going,” he says.
Established comedian Dan Gagnon, who is currently working on his fifth one-man show slated for 2023 in Belgium and France, confirms he’s gained admirers as a result of this whole story.
A happy coincidence
The comedian left Quebec after meeting a Belgian at Laval University.
He sees his arrival in Belgium and his desire to stay there as a happy coincidence. “Let’s be honest, no one has plans to go to Belgium,” laughs the man who originally dreamed of becoming a sportswriter but won animation on the morning show at NRJ Belgium in 2015 (where he will stay for six years).
He has amassed chronicles on television, podcasts and solo shows, including his first, L’excellent spectacle de Dan Gagnon, in 2012. His next three shows are offered on the Pirate Tour formula: people pay what they pay for hold the show after the performance.
“You decide how people treat you,” continues the man who also presented his own show, The Dan Late Show, in 2014, the same year he received Belgian and Canadian citizenship. I don’t want to play the Quebec mascot game. I did a little bit at first, but you don’t build a career out of it. I also never wanted to change my accent, but I wanted to be understandable. »
He also enjoys being active on social media and attending charity events.
“I’m super funny and super humble,” he laughs when asked about the secret of his success abroad. I sincerely think you have an aptitude for being funny. Many believe that humor cannot be learned. If you put in a little effort, you don’t need as many people you love to make a career out of it. »
Is he thinking of returning to Quebec one day? It’s not in his plans.
♦ The web series capsules almost normal and excerpts from his shows are available on social networks.
♦ To follow Dan Gagnon on social media and listen to his columns: instagram.com/Ledangagnon
An excerpt from his controversial column
Here is an excerpt from the morning column that preceded his departure from RTBF:
” RTBF is the official broadcaster of the World Cup, so I was wondering if it would be inappropriate to talk about it here. Then I said to myself, ‘OK, if for the RTBF 6500 deaths that happen, I have the margin! I could still kill 6490 people and go light again. Out of breath for sure, covered in blood for sure, but still on duty!” »