Two men became the victims of a savage hate crime while holidaying on the French island of Corsica.

Speaking to French publication TETU, Mickaël and Benoît told them that they had been out for the evening with Benoît’s brother, sister and sister-in-law when they crossed paths with a group of homophobic teens.

“A group of young teenagers aged 15 to 20 laughed at us and insulted us as queers,” Mickaël told the magazine, adding one of them showed him “a picture of someone pissing on a rainbow flag. I stay very calm and tell him that I am gay myself. At that moment he takes out his cross and tells me that it ‘is against nature.'”

The two guys decided to depart but were followed outside by the gang. As they were leaving one of the guys grabs his arm and begins to call him queer.

“That’s when things went nuts,” Mickaël said. “I had five punches before I got stuck between two cars with 10 guys on me. Luckily I didn’t lose consciousness… who knows what could have happened… would I still be alive?”

As this was happening, a crowd of approximately 60 people was gathered around watching, as they were called “faggots” while being kicked and punched. Not stepping in, not looking horrified.

“They brought out the popcorn,” Benoît said.

Fortunately, Benoît’s family had called the police who intervened… before asking the couple, “Aren’t you guys ashamed to kiss here?” Confirming the homophobia embedded in French police and authority.

As the men were carried into ambulances, the crowd jeered, shouting “faggots”.

In a statement, a representative of the Haute-Corse police force said that “such acts have no place in the Republic”. Perhaps he should tell that to the officers who attended the scene.

It’s confirmed that an investigation has been launched, although it wasn’t outlined why police didn’t arrest them at the scene.