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TRENDING
May 15, 2024
French Producer Accused of Sexual Assault by Nine Women
The testimonies were published on May 14, on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival where Sarde has premiered 50 films over the years including Roman Polanski’s Palme d’Or-winning The Pianist and David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. By: K Dass.
France - Nine women have indeed accused
prolific French producer Alain Sarde of rape and sexual assault. This exposé
was published in the French edition of Elle magazine.
Sarde has denied the accusations, and as of now, he
has not been officially charged with any crimes related to these incidents. The
testimonies date from between 1985 and 2003 and involve actresses who mostly
chose to remain anonymous, except for Annelise Hesme and Laurence Cote.
The common thread among the accusations is that these
women met with Sarde under the pretext of discussing potential roles, whether
at his office, home, or other off-set locations. One woman alleges that she was
raped by Sarde when she was 15 and he was 33, while others describe pushing
away unwanted advances.
His lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, issued a statement
refuting the allegations, emphasising that Sarde disapproves of such behaviors
and considers them foreign to him. Sarde, known for producing films by
acclaimed directors like Jean-Luc Godard and Roman Polanski, has premiered 50
films at the Cannes Film Festival over the years. The accusations have surfaced
just before this year’s festival, where the #MeToo movement continues to be a
significant topic of discussion
As of now, French authorities have not officially
responded to the accusations against Alain Sarde. The exposé published in Elle
magazine has brought attention to the allegations, but any legal actions or
investigations would likely depend on the testimonies and evidence presented by
the accusers.
