Patrick Bruel Under Judicial Investigation
Patrick Bruel, one of France's most prominent entertainment figures, has been placed under formal judicial investigation on multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse. This development is part of the ongoing repercussions of the Me Too movement.
Following two days in custody at the Nanterre police station in the western suburbs of Paris, the 67-year-old singer and actor appeared before a panel of four judges on Wednesday evening.
The judges upheld the state prosecutor's request to place Bruel under investigation for several allegations, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and harassment.
Bruel has consistently denied all accusations. The judges released him from custody under judicial supervision, rejecting the prosecutors' request to keep him detained.
Being placed under investigation means that an examining magistrate will conduct a detailed inquiry into the charges against Bruel. His legal team will have access to the prosecution's file. In most cases, this process leads to a trial.
Under French law, rape is defined as "any non-consensual act of penetration".
Public and Feminist Reactions
Feminist campaigners expressed satisfaction with the news of Bruel's investigation.
This case emerges amid heightened sensitivity in France regarding the judicial handling of sexual offenses, particularly following the murder of an 11-year-old girl named Lyhanna. The suspected perpetrator had previously been the subject of multiple abuse allegations.
Context of Accusations Against French Celebrities
Alongside actor Gérard Depardieu, Bruel is among the most renowned French public figures to face accusations of sexual misconduct.
Depardieu, aged 77, received a suspended sentence last year for sexual assault on a film set and has appealed the conviction.
Patrick Bruel’s Background and Career
Born Patrick Benguigui in Algeria in 1959, Bruel gained fame in the early 1980s with songs such as Marre de cette nana-là (Had enough of that chick). His powerful voice and dark, brooding appearance sparked a phenomenon known as "Bruelmania" at the time.
In addition to his music career, Bruel has appeared in over 30 films and recently performed in a theatre production in Paris.
His most recent performances in Paris were cancelled due to the allegations, as were most dates on a planned concert tour across France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada. This tour has now been definitively cancelled.
Previous Complaints and New Allegations
Bruel was previously the subject of complaints alleging sexual harassment; however, these were dismissed in 2020 due to insufficient evidence.
In May of this year, investigative website Mediapart reported that approximately 30 women had shared similar accounts of harassment or assault, many incidents occurring on film sets or off-stage at music venues.
Last month, several accusers were joined by well-known TV and radio presenter Flavie Flament. Flament alleged that in 1991, when she was 16 and Bruel was 32, the singer had drugged and raped her at his home in Paris.
The Flament case was not among the nine allegations cited by the judges, as the alleged crime occurred too long ago. However, the state prosecutor requested that this and 12 other older allegations be reconsidered for possible inclusion in the charges.
Bruel’s Response to Allegations
Bruel has denied all allegations. According to French media reports, he recently told his "entourage":
"I may have been heavy-handed but I always took no for an answer".
In an Instagram post last month, the singer stated:
"I have never in my life forced myself on a woman."
"Nor have I ever drugged, manipulated or tried to subjugate anyone nor used my fame to abuse or obtain non-consensual relations."
