French pop and variety singer Patrick Bruel has cancelled his entire 35-date autumn tour, bowing to weeks of pressure from politicians, mayors and feminist groups following allegations of sexual assault and rape against him. Lawyers representing the accusers called the decision a “power signal” showing that women are “at last being heard.”
The 67-year-old former 1990s heartthrob announced the cancellation in an Instagram post on Tuesday, framing it as a “choice of appeasement” rather than an admission of guilt. He denies the allegations against him.
In his Instagram post, the singer insists that this decision “in no way means [he] is giving up on defending [himself].”
“But I realise that today, this tour has become something else. It has become the embodiment of a debate that goes beyond it,” he adds.
To date, Bruel has been placed under formal investigation in four cases – notably for rape and attempted rape – and has been granted the more favorable status of “assisted witness” in four others.
In May and June, as the legal net tightened around him, several of his concerts were cancelled – not only in France but also in Montreal, Canada – while Bruel himself decided against performing at the summer festivals where he had been scheduled to appear.
The final performances of the play he was starring in in Paris were also cancelled.
Although taken into police custody and placed under formal investigation in early June, the singer was not jailed; instead, he was subject to judicial supervision that did not prohibit him from performing on stage.
‘Missteps’ by the justice system
However, he has faced mounting pressure from feminist groups and public figures to cancel the rest of the performances.
Following Bruel’s announcement, lawyer Jade Dousselin, who represents several complainants, expressed her “great relief” while asserting that this cancellation did not overshadow what she regards as “missteps” by the justice system.
“It’s a powerful signal, a turning point; women’s voices are finally being heard,” another lawyer for victims Corinne Herrmann told Franceinfo on Wednesday.
She represents television presenter Flavie Flament, who filed a civil-party complaint in Paris in May accusing Bruel of raping her in 1991, when she was 16.
According to Herrmann, the victims she represents feel that “something has shifted in our society – that civil society has heard them and their fears for other women, because that was truly a matter of concern for them,” she said.
She added: “That is why most of them have stepped out of anonymity and filed complaints.”
The collective NousToutes hailed the outcome a “massive feminist mobilisation,” deeming the tour “indecent, an insult to the victims” of sexual assault.
The mayors of the cities where the artist was scheduled to perform also expressed their relief.
Strasbourg Mayor Catherine Trautmann welcomed the cancellation, adding, “Women who have had the courage to come forward must be able to count on us to listen and offer our support.”
‘Better late than never’
Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, the mayor of Rouen said it was “better late than never.”
“Now, the justice system must be allowed to take its course calmly,” he told French news agency AFP.
“We had called for the voices of victims of sexist and sexual violence to be valued and for the justice system to be able to do its job. With the cancellation of this date, that has now been achieved,” his counterpart in Chartres, Ladislas Vergne said.
Aurore Bergé, the Minister for Gender Equality – who had called on Patrick Bruel to cancel his tour – stated that she has “taken note” of the decision.
France changes criminal code to define rape as sex without consent
Complaints and accusations have been mounting since an investigation published by website Mediapart in March, which was based on the testimony of eight women regarding events spanning the period from 1991 to 2019.
Bruel has consistently denied all of the accusations, calling them “false”.
“I will fight to have my innocence recognised,” he wrote on Instagram, insisting that he “takes what is being said seriously.”
The singer also acknowledged the support of his fans who had hoped to see him take the stage to celebrate the 35th anniversary of his hit album “Alors regarde” (Go on take a look), which sold over three million copies.
Source: French pop star Patrick Bruel cancels 35-date tour amid sexual assault storm – RFI
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