On April 22, Kendji "Girac" Maillié, who won his season of The Voice: France in 2014, was hospitalized after being shot in the chest. Girac was at a traveler camp in Biscarrosse, France at the time of the shooting late on Sunday night. He was transported to a hospital in Bordeaux early Monday morning, where he is being treated for his injuries.
Despite an earlier post on X, formerly Twitter, claiming otherwise, L'agence France-Presse reported that Girac's injuries are not life-threatening. However, the singer remains in intensive care. The 27-year-old musician reportedly told first responders that he had accidentally shot himself while handling a new gun. He had purchased a Colt .45 automatic pistol earlier on Saturday from a "junk shop" and claimed that the accident stemmed from his not knowing how to use the weapon.
While there is no definitive confirmation of a police investigation at the moment, some sources claim a domestic incident occurred, which led to Girac's being shot. Forensic experts are reportedly "examining Girac's partner 'for traces of shotgun residue.'" Police took the gun into their own custody to carry out "ballistics tests." Girac has reportedly not been questioned yet.
The "Les yeux de la mama" singer was reportedly with an "unidentified partner" and his three-year-old daughter when the gun shot went off. Neither the partner nor his daughter were injured during the incident.
Girac was found "conscious, lying outside his holiday caravan" when police arrived around 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning. One source claims that the singer was "never in danger of dying" from his chest wound.
Le Monde reported that a man named Emilio, who claimed to be Girac's uncle and would not provide a last name, said that "This isn't a gangland shooting. It's an accident. He was playing with the thing and 'bam." He continued, saying that "we were quietly playing the guitar...An accident can happen at any time."
During Girac's run on the Voice: France, Mika, a Lebanese pop star born Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., was his mentor. Girac has five albums under his belt, including Kendji, which reached the top of the charts in both France and Belgium and was certified Diamond. In fact, four of his five albums peaked at No. 1 in France, with only Mi Vida falling behind with a peak of No 2. He won the singing competition during its third season and is the best-selling winner of The Voice in the world.
Girac initially went viral after his uncle published a YouTube video of him covering "Bella" by Maître Gims in Romanes. Girac is of Catalan Gitano descent, speaking both French and Catalan. He is now a member of the judging panel for The Voice Kids France with Jenifer, Patrick Fiori and Soprano.
No official statements have been made by friends or family of Girac following the shooting. While family members were seen at Haut-Leveque hospital, they declined to give a response to the situation.
