« Culte » (Prime Video) : Karim, le découvreur de Loana, a-t-il vraiment existé ?

The series “Culte”, broadcast on Prime Video, immerses viewers in the behind-the-scenes of one of the most significant television events of the 2000s: the phenomenon Loft Story.

Beyond the iconic contestants, the series highlights the personalities who played a key role in the production of the show. But among these characters, not all of them actually existed.

This is the case for Karim, the discoverer of Loana. So, is he a fictional character or drawn from reality?

The character of Karim: a role invented for the series

In “Culte”, Karim, portrayed by Sami Outalbali, is the one who discovers Loana during the Loft Story auditions, thus playing a central role in her rise. However, unlike other characters in the series, Karim did not exist in real life.

He is a narrative creation intended to enrich the storyline of the series. The co-writer of “Culte”, Nicolas Slomka, has confirmed in an interview that this character is fictional.

He was created to represent the commitment of the production teams, who spent hours scrutinizing the lofters, fascinated by their daily lives.

Other characters inspired by real figures

If Karim is an invented character, several other key figures in the series “Culte” are inspired by real personalities who participated in the Loft Story adventure. Among them, we find Isabelle, played by Anaïde Rozam, who is loosely inspired by Alexia Laroche-Joubert, one of the iconic producers of the show.

Similarly, the character of Elena Valente, portrayed by Jacqueline Corado, is directly inspired by Angela Lorente, a Spanish producer who significantly contributed to the casting of the first season of Loft Story.

A series that captures the essence of the television phenomenon

Although some characters, like Karim, are fictional, “Culte” succeeds in recreating the atmosphere and behind-the-scenes of the era, while paying tribute to those who made Loft Story a true cultural phenomenon.

The series, which is currently unanimously praised by viewers on Prime Video, offers a nostalgic yet critical look at a time when reality TV was beginning to establish itself as a distinct genre.