French humorist and writer Jessé has opened up about his unconventional family origins in his new memoir, *Les Bateaux sur la terrasse* (Editions Robert Laffont). During an appearance on the France Inter podcast *Zoom Zoom Zen* and the television program *Un dimanche à la campagne* on November 8, 2026, the 34-year-old comedian revealed that his father, who raised him since infancy, is not his biological parent. Jessé explained that his mother had an affair and became pregnant by her lover, a man he identifies as his biological father. [1]
Jessé recounted how, from early childhood, his mother used to tell him bedtime stories that included the revelation that his father loved him but was not his biological father. When his parents eventually separated six months after his birth, his biological father decided to step forward. Jessé noted that his legal father, after considerable reflection, chose to recognize him and raise him as his own, defying social stigma. This decision, which Jessé describes as a 'choice of infinite love' and 'pure generosity,' meant he grew up with a legal father, a biological father, and a stepmother, a dynamic he initially struggled to understand as a child in the 1990s. [1]
Now in his mid-thirties and living in Burgundy, Jessé fully embraces his origins. He characterizes himself as 'the fruit of a betrayal,' yet emphasizes the abundance of love he received from his family, particularly from the father who chose to stay. His memoir, an autofiction that contrasts sharply with his public persona as a jovial comedian, delves into themes of homophobic bullying, loneliness, and family resentment, providing a deeper look into the traumas that shaped his life and career. [1]
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