A theatrical performance in which actor and singer Patrick Bruel, targeted by several investigations for rape, plays, was canceled Wednesday evening in Paris, after a demonstration by a collective of feminist activists, the play’s press officer said on Thursday.
“The performance has been canceled,” he said in a message to AFP. A police source also confirmed this cancellation to AFP.
Before the play “Second Part”, around ten activists from Nous Tous demonstrated in front of the Edouard VII theater with signs, chanting “Bruel rapist!” or “No scene for the attackers!”, noted an AFP journalist. A few clashes with spectators in front of the scene also occurred.
Some activists witnessed the exit of the spectators, who had entered to settle down shortly before, Marine, a member of Nous Tous who took part in this action, told AFP.
The collective wants to “cancel the performances planned until Sunday”, the date of the last show, to “show that we will always be there to fight impunity”, she explained.
The same play had already been disrupted on May 28: during the performance, three activists from this collective, wearing a mask bearing the image of the singer and actor, had shouted in the room “Bruel! Rapist!”, causing the lights to come on and the intervention of security, who evacuated them.
The interpreter of cult songs for a generation of French people like “Casser la voix” and “Place des grands hommes” is the target of four complaints for rape in France and a judicial investigation for sexual assault in Belgium. He disputes all of the facts with which he is accused.
Under pressure, the 67-year-old French star announced on Friday the cancellation of most of his next tour, which was to begin in mid-June in Paris before taking him to festivals.
Its three dates in Montreal were canceled by the organizer on Wednesday. Several concerts remain at this stage maintained in the fall.
