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French pop icon Patrick Bruel has been formally charged with rape and sexual assault, marking one of the most significant #MeToo incidents within the French music scene.
The 67-year-old singer, a prominent figure in French culture, is under investigation for four cases involving allegations of rape, attempted rape, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
Bruel has been classified as an “assisted witness” in four additional cases, which also include serious allegations of rape and attempted rape.
The Nanterre prosecutor’s office reported that Bruel was interrogated on Wednesday regarding incidents involving nine alleged victims spanning from 2000 to 2019.
Furthermore, complaints from an additional 13 women, alleging similar offenses from 1992 to 2008, have been included in the case file provided to investigating magistrates, despite some being potentially beyond the statute of limitations.
The singer’s legal team has stated that he categorically denies all accusations.
He was released on bail early Thursday morning.
Bruel’s career took off in the 1990s with numerous chart-topping albums, becoming a household name featured prominently in teen magazines.
His fanbase was often described as experiencing “bruelmania.”
In addition to his music career, Bruel has acted in various films and even held the title of world poker champion for a brief period in 1998, remaining a familiar face on television chat shows.
Recent reports from investigative outlet Mediapart and magazine Elle have brought to light multiple allegations from women against Bruel, some dating back to the 1990s.
His lawyers reiterated to Mediapart that he denies “all allegations of violence or coercion.”
Despite these serious claims, Bruel continued performing in Paris until recently but faced mounting pressure from feminist activists and city officials in Marseille, Paris, and Nancy, who urged him to cancel his concert tour, leading to its eventual cancellation.
Earlier this week, Bruel voluntarily attended a police station and was charged following extensive questioning by judges.
Among those who have come forward against Bruel is Daniela Elstner, the Director of Unifrance, a prominent organization promoting French cinema internationally.
Additionally, lawyer Myriam Guedj Benayoun announced she filed a new complaint against Bruel for the alleged attempted rape of a 19-year-old woman at his residence in 2000.
The accuser, now 46 and an actress, had previously participated in a music video with Bruel.
His legal representatives maintain that he denies all allegations.
Bruel joins a growing list of French celebrities facing sexual assault accusations.
Notably, actor Gérard Depardieu, 76, received an 18-month suspended sentence last year after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” (The Green Shutters) in Paris in 2021.
A judge mandated that his name be added to France’s sex offender registry.
Depardieu’s appeal is set for November, and he has also been ordered to stand trial for charges related to raping and sexually assaulting actress Charlotte Arnould at his Paris residence in 2018, which he denies.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong