The singer and actor Patrick Bruel, targeted by several complaints of rape, including one submitted by TV host Flavie Flamentreaffirmed his innocence and assured that he will continue to “do his job” on Sunday in a message posted on his Instagram account.
The artist assures that his “brief story” with Flavie Flament was “neither violent, nor coerced, nor sneaky”, adding that “there was neither rape nor drugs”, even if he says he understands that “our age difference could cause people to react today”. Flavie Flament accuses him of having raped her in 1991 when she was 16 years old and the singer was in his thirties, at the height of his fame after the release of the album “Dans, voir” (1989), which included the eponymous hit or “Casser la voix”.
“I also understand that notoriety or status can bias a seductive relationship,” adds Patrick Bruel, now 67 years old. “I have never forced a woman,” he reaffirms. “And if I could have hurt anyone, I sincerely regret it,” he adds.
On Sunday, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced on RTL that Patrick Bruel was the target of at least four complaints for sexual violence, not including that filed by Flavie Flament, and that the procedures would be grouped together at the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office.
According to an AFP report, three investigations have already been opened in France and Belgium targeting him. On his Instagram account, he assures that he will fight in court “to defend the truth”. “In this time, I will continue to do my job, with the same dedication and the same passion,” he wrote.
Patrick Bruel is currently performing in a play by Samuel Benchetrit, at the Théâtre Edouard VII in Paris. At the same time, he must put on his singing costume for a new tour, covering 58 dates in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Quebec, from June 16 at the Cirque d’Hiver until December.
But a petitionsigned by feminist organizations and activists – including actresses Anna Mouglalis, Corinne Masiero and Anouk Grinberg – calls for “the celebration of an alleged attacker to be canceled and to support these women who had the courage to speak out”.
