Xavier Niel, the CEO of Free, brought a dose of humor to the Twitter world (now known as X) yesterday by responding to a challenge from a user in Marseille. This individual had set a meeting point in front of a Lidl store for a “1v1”. Niel, seizing the moment, actually showed up, and the outcome was quite amusing.
A Challenge Issued in May… Answered Five Months Later
The story began last May when a user named JimmyBLLT called out Xavier Niel on X with a bold and biting message: “Xavier Niel, I hate you, let’s have a 1v1 in front of the Lidl on Sainte Street in Marseille.” It seemed like an offhand remark that would not be taken seriously. Yet, on Friday, November 15, the billionaire posted a photo of himself in front of the specified Lidl with a simple yet striking caption: I’m waiting for you
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To add to the spectacle, he posted a video saying: Here I am, waiting for you! Where are you? Do you want to meet in the parking lot? Come on, come on!
Overwhelmed, the user quickly backtracked: “NO SORRY I WAS JOKING.” This exchange turned out to be either a brilliant banter or not.
Lidl Joins the Fun
Following this, Lidl itself joined in on the conversation with a cheeky comment: “Someone please come pick up the guy who’s been tweeting from in front of the store on Sainte Street in Marseille all morning.” And honestly, this joke landed well too. Such controlled trolling is bound to bring a smile.
The stunt was a hit: millions of views in just a few hours and it reinforced Niel’s image as a ‘cool’ entrepreneur. However, not everyone took it with the same sense of humor. Some users reminded that Free is still under scrutiny after a massive cyberattack compromised the personal data of millions of customers. This timing did not go unnoticed by the more critical observers, and rightly so.
Niel’s Flair for Provocation
This is not the first time Xavier Niel has played the self-deprecation card. From performing stand-up at the Olympia to creating a meme generator to mock Orange (which was quickly removed after a backlash), he likes to stay in the limelight. This latest escapade at the Lidl in Marseille is just another chapter in his book of antics, which maintain his quirky persona. Ultimately, Xavier Niel proves one thing: he never misses an opportunity to surprise. Whether this impromptu 1v1 at Lidl will overshadow other issues remains to be seen. It’s up to you to decide.