“Either he touched my breasts or he touched my butt”

The trial of journalist Marie Portolano for defamation against Pierre Ménès was marked by the absence of the former columnist, whom she accuses of sexual assault, with debates largely centered on the actions accused of the ex-star of Canal+. During the trial, the journalist recounted the “avoidance strategies” adopted by herself and the other women in each presence of the sports consultant who, in 2016, was designated by The Team as the 10th most influential personality in French football.

Pierre Ménès had taken legal action three months after the publication of Marie Portolano’s book, “Je suis la femme du plateau”, published in March 2024 by Stock editions, in which the sports journalist recounted a sexual assault suffered on the set of Canal Football Club in 2016. The debates took place in the absence of the former columnist, whose request for dismissal was rejected by the court.

In this context and given the numerous testimonies provided by Marie Portolano’s defense, the journalist’s hearing was transformed into an overview of the actions alleged against Pierre Menès. “We all gathered to take a photo with Antoine Griezmann, our guest, and at that moment, Pierre lifted my skirt” in front of the public, Marie Portolano testified on the stand, adding that she “hit him in front of everyone” before leaving the set, “very angry”.

A story corroborated by three direct testimonies, including that of Hervé Mathoux, historic presenter of the Canal Football Club, then indicated Me Christophe Bigot, lawyer for Marie Portolano and Stock editions. “As soon as I was in contact with him, he either touched my breasts or he touched my buttocks,” said the journalist. A situation shared with the makeup artists, whose buttocks he “grabs”.

“He had a right of control, that’s really what we said between us,” assured Ms. Portolano, to explain one of the passages from her book which is the subject of the defamation complaint. “What more do you want?” thundered Me Bigot, mentioning the conclusions of the Labor Inspectorate which reported “palpations of the breasts” of pregnant women, “repeated hands on the buttocks” and “humiliation in public” on the part of the deposed consultant.

“We expect him to understand that women are not his things, that he does not have their bodies as he wishes,” scathed Me Bigot. The public prosecutor considered that there was “sufficient factual basis” for the journalist to bring these accusations “in good faith”.

Before the judges, Ms. Portolano recalled that her book – in which Pierre Ménès is not named once – aimed above all to denounce a “system”. “I wrote this book because I was unhappy with the fact that the whole forest was behind the tree, and that the tree was the tree,” explained Marie Portolano. “The real culprits are the people who let it happen.”

Genesis of the book, the resounding broadcast of the documentary “I am not a slut, I am a journalist”, co-directed by Marie Portolano in 2021, gave the floor to 18 women in order to denounce sexism in sports editorial offices. But an extract involving Pierre Ménès, cut during editing at the request of the producer Canal+ to protect its chronicler, had attracted all the attention during its revelation.

Pierre Ménès assured that he did not remember the attack on set, while affirming that he could do it again. “I was careful to explain that there was not a guilty man, but a guilty society, which constantly encouraged this type of behavior, particularly in sporting relationships,” declared Marie Portolano.

Pierre Ménès, who was not represented by a lawyer after the referral request, hoped to obtain this postponement due to a medical appointment, but the court considered that this imperative was “not justified”. The defense had denounced a “tactical choice” aimed at trying to postpone the hearing until after the trial on November 16, in which the Nanterre court must rule on the merits of the case. The decision will be made on November 4.