In brief
Patrick Bruel, 67, has faced a wave of sexual assault allegations during his career, with one prominent accusation coming from TV presenter Flavie Flament, who claims she was assaulted by him at the age of 16. Bruel has firmly denied these claims, insisting on his Instagram that he has never forced himself on any woman. As legal proceedings begin, discussions regarding consent and the legal framework for sexual abuse cases continue in France.
Warning: contains details of alleged sexual offences and misconduct
French 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 the well-known TV and radio presenter Flavie Flament, who alleges the singer drugged and raped her at his Paris home in 1991, when she was 16 and he 32.
Bruel, who is currently performing at a Paris theatre, wrote in a post on Instagram that he had never in his 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, he stated.
Born Patrick Benguigui in Algeria in 1959, Bruel came to fame in the early 1980s with songs such as Marre de cette nana-là (Had enough of that chick). His strong voice and dark brooding looks led to a public obsession that became known as Bruelmania.
He has remained in the public eye and the abuse allegations against him have been making front-page news in France.
Bruel is due to start a concert tour in June of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada after finishing his theatre engagement, but a feminist group has launched an online petition to have the tour cancelled.
In addition to Flament, around 30 other women have complained about sexual mistreatment by Bruel, according to French investigative website Mediapart. Around 10 of these cases are now being reviewed by prosecutors in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, including a case initially dropped in 2020 for lack of evidence.
French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said on Tuesday that female victims should be encouraged to speak out even decades later, adding it is then up to the justice system to establish the truth of the facts.
Flament, who reported Bruel’s alleged assault, has also expressed that she believes she was drugged during the incident. Bruel’s lawyer insists that the relationship with Flament was consensual, denying any allegations of coercion or assault. The ongoing legal scrutiny and societal discussions surrounding the weight of such claims continue to unfold as Bruel's public image faces significant challenges.
