In brief
French singer and actor Patrick Bruel has adamantly denied a series of sexual assault allegations that have surfaced against him recently. Accusations involve numerous women, including television personality Flavie Flament, who claims Bruel drugged and assaulted her when she was a teenager. Bruel's lawyer insists the relationship was consensual, while the matter is under investigation by prosecutors.
Warning: contains details of alleged sexual offences and misconductFrench star Patrick Bruel has fiercely denied allegations he sexually assaulted a number of women during his 50-year career as a singer and actor. Bruel, 67, has in recent weeks been the subject of a wave of accusations – some of which are now being examined by prosecutors with a view to possible court action.Among his latest accusers is well-known TV and radio presenter Flavie Flament, who alleges the singer drugged and raped her at his Paris home when she was just 16 years old and he was 32. Bruel, currently performing at a Paris theatre, expressed in an Instagram post that he has never forced himself on a woman, nor has he ever drugged or manipulated anyone for non-consensual relations. He expressed that his fame has not been used to exploit others.Born Patrick Benguigui in Algeria in 1959, Bruel gained fame in the 1980s with hits like Marre de cette nana-là (Had enough of that chick). He remains a prominent figure in French entertainment amidst these emerging abuse allegations.Bruel is scheduled to begin a concert tour across France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada in June, but a feminist group has initiated an online petition to cancel the tour. Around 30 women have made complaints about sexual mistreatment by Bruel, and about 10 cases are currently under review by prosecutors in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, including a previous case dismissed in 2020 for lack of evidence.French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon emphasized the need for female victims to be encouraged to speak out, regardless of how much time has passed, affirming, it is up to the justice system to establish the truth of the facts. Flament, an early advocate against sexual exploitation, has unequivocally rejected Bruel's lawyer’s claims regarding a consensual relationship, stating they had no relationship at all.
