Aqababe

Aniss Zitouni was born on 15 April 1998 in Lyon, France. He became known on social media under the pseudonym Aqababe. Debut and show on TeleStar Play (2018–2020) Aqababe began to gain attention on social media in 2018 by sharing various scoops and information about celebrities, thus attracting a growing number of subscribers. Search for Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès (2025) In April 2025, he launched a search effort to find Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, a man wanted since April 2011, suspected of murdering his wife and their four children. A few days later, he claimed to have found him, which the prosecutor's office denied, calling the mission a "vast hoax". The investigators say they are "annoyed" by this approach, which they believe employs questionable methods and wastes their time. Breach of medical confidentiality concerning Werenoi (2025) On 16 May 2025, he reported the hospitalization of rapper Werenoi while disclosing the reasons for this hospitalization without the consent of the rapper and his family. This behavior was denounced by several observers as a possible breach of medical confidentiality, to which the rapper, who died the day after the influencer's posts, was entitled to. Accusing Iris Mittenaere of cheating and deception (2025) In June 2025, Aqababe alleged that Iris Mittenaere had been repeatedly cheating on several of her partners. A few hours later, Diego El Glaoui posted a statement on Instagram confirming Aqababe's allegations. According to Aqababe, Mittenaere allegedly had a double relationship with Bruno Pelat and Antoine Dupont and then was in a relationship with Diego El Glaoui, Paul Mirabel, and Valentin Lucas all at the same time. El Glaoui is also heard in the audio stating that Mittenaere threatens to put a "MeToo" allegation onto him, if he reveals that she cheated on him with Valentin Lucas for four months. claiming that exclusive sources have confirmed to him the purchase of the coffin in which the French film actress will rest, and that it is only a matter of time before the mainstream media spread the information. On the same day, around 10:30 p.m., Brigitte Bardot reacted in a post on X, saying she was the victim of fake news, and asked who the "idiot" was who announced her death. Despite the post from the person in question, the blogger persisted in declaring her dead. Two days later, Aqababe acknowledged his mistake and apologized. Leaking private Snapchat videos of Miss France 2026 contestants (2025) On 7 December 2025, the day after the Miss France 2026 contest, Aqababe leaked a private Snapchat video filmed by Miss Aquitaine 2025, Aïnhoa Lahitete, after the Top 12 semifinalists were announced. On 13 December 2025, Miss France Company president Frédéric Gilbert appeared on the France 2 talk show What A Time! (Quelle époque !) with eventual winner of the 2026 Miss France contest, Miss Tahiti 2025: Hinaupoko Devèze, and stated that Lahitete and Zitouni had received over 30,000 insulting messages on social media in the aftermath of the controversy, and condemned the online harassment both had been subjected to. == Legal Issues ==

JeremstarGate controversy (2018–2023) On 16 January 2018, Aqababe published an intimate video of the blogger and columnist Jeremstar. At the same time, he accused Pascal Cardonna, a close associate of Jeremstar, of making explicit sexual propositions to underage boys. Aqababe published several recordings and excerpts of conversations to support his accusations, claiming that Pascal Cardonna, nicknamed "Babybel," used Jeremstar as an intermediary to approach teenagers. Various news outlets, in France, have dubbed the controversy as "JeremstarGate". On 7 June 2022, Aqababe published an open letter on Instagram in which he apologized and announced he would stop publishing scoops about reality TV personalities. He accused her of covering up for influencers involved in consumer scams. On 27 April 2019, Aqababe was arrested by law enforcement for cyberbullying. During his arrest, he was informed of the complaints filed against him by Magali Berdah. Maes-Aqababe Case (2018–2022) In October 2022, compromising videos circulated on social media, showing blogger Aqababe being subjected to physical violence. These images, filmed in 2019, implicated the rapper Maes and several accomplices. Aqababe claimed he was kidnapped, taken to an unknown location and beaten, while his attackers hurled homophobic insults at him. The conflict between the two men began in 2018, when the blogger claimed that Maes was in a homosexual relationship. The rapper denies the allegations and goes to Aqababe's supposed home to confront him, without success. A year later, he finally finds the blogger and violently attacks him. The case resurfaced when former reality TV contestant Dylan Thiry was accused of possessing and distributing these videos. The leak of the images caused a wave of indignation and prompted many internet users to report the matter to the PHAROS service. The police have opened an investigation, but Maes remains silent in the face of the accusations, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to bring charges. Assault at his home and complaint filed against unknown persons and Poupette Kenza (2023) On 21 November 2023, Aqababe stated that he was the victim of an attack at his home in Hauts-de-Seine. According to his account, three hooded and armed men burst into his home after ringing his doorbell. One of them struck him several times with the butt of a handgun, leaving him with a head wound and facial bruises. The attackers fled after accidentally triggering an emergency call on his phone. Following this event, Aqababe filed a complaint against X for "aggravated violence" and against the influencer Poupette Kenza, whose real name is Kenza Benchrif, for "death threats". He accused her of posting threatening messages against him and sharing his address on social media, which may have facilitated the attack he suffered. Conviction for death threats against Guillaume Genton (2023–2024) On 21 November 2023, Aqababe claimed to have been attacked at his home by three armed individuals and accused Poupette Kenza of being responsible. The following day, he appeared on the set of prime-time talk-show Touche pas à mon poste !. During his appearance on the show, a tense exchange took place between him and the commentator Guillaume Genton, the latter believed that the blogger had a "business that could cause problems." Aqababe then left the set in tears at the end of the exchange. A few days after the show, Guillaume Genton received anonymous death threats via messages. The judicial investigation led back to Aqababe, who confessed to the crimes during his time in police custody. He was placed under judicial supervision and tried on 18 January 2024 by the Nanterre judicial court. He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for eighteen months, with probation, and prohibited from contacting Guillaume Genton and his partner. He is also required to pay them €2,800 in compensation and to undergo psychological care as well as treatment related to narcotics. Fraud case (since 2025) In 2025, Aqababe was accused of fraud, breach of trust and deceptive business practices by several former clients. Five victims have filed a complaint, accusing him of failing to honor his commercial commitments after payment, including promotions on his social media or his website xoxoaqababe.com. Nekfeu's ex-wife files a complaint (since 2025) On the evening of 8 October 2025, Aqababe published a short statement on his social media accounts on Instagram and X where he claimed that the rapper Nekfeu was being financially blackmailed by his ex-wife. Aqababe alleged that the ex-wife premeditated their meeting with the sole purpose of seducing him, deliberately became pregnant without her husband's consent, lied about accusations of marital rape and child abuse, and is trying to extort money from him — between “1 and 3 million euros” according to Aqababe — to get revenge for the divorce requested and obtained by the artist. The very next day, Nekfeu's ex-wife filed a complaint against Aqababe (as well as producer Diabi Tyler and rapper Doums, two friends of Nekfeu who were actively involved in his defense on social media) for "harassment through online public communication". Lawsuits filed by two Miss France 2026 contestants (since 2025) In December 2025, Aqababe had two lawsuits filed against him by two contestants at the Miss France 2026 contest, Miss Aquitaine 2025: Aïnhoa Lahitete and Miss Provence 2025: Julie Zitouni. Aqababe would also accuse Zitouni of smoking marijuana during the pageant and thus, lose out on making the semifinals, which Zitouni herself denies and even stated that she even told the Miss France Company not to include in the Top 12 as she didn't want to be included. Following the leaking of the videos, the two contestants would experience relentless online harassment on social media along with widespread condemnation for unsportsmanlike conduct towards their fellow contestants. On 10 December 2025, it was reported that Aïnhoa Lahitete, the now dethroned Miss Aquitaine, filed a lawsuit against Aqababe and the individuals who were involved in leaking the video, citing invasion of privacy and non-consensual dissemination of private content. The following day (11 December 2025), it was reported that Julie Zitouni, the now dethroned Miss Provence, would also file a lawsuit against Aqababe, due to him accusing her of losing out on the Top 12 because of being caught smoking marijuana during the pageant, along with Twitter, citing online harassment that she experienced from anonymous users. == References ==