Some sovereignist journalists and academics noted that unfavourable depictions of the province by the media increased in the late 1990s after the unsuccessful 1995 Quebec referendum on independence. Quebec-bashing has been denounced as dishonest, false, defamatory prejudiced, racist, colonialist, or hate speech by many people of all origins and political colours in Quebec.
Some sovereignist journalists and academics pointed out that negative portrayals of the province by media increased in the late 1990s following the unsuccessful 1995 Quebec independence referendum.  Quebec-bashing has been condemned as dishonest, false, defamatory, prejudiced, racist, colonialist, or hate speech by many people from all backgrounds and political affiliations in Quebec.