Another Woman Accuses Patrick Bruel of Sexual Assault
A third woman has filed a sexual assault complaint against French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the star, who has denied all allegations through his lawyer.
Former Belgian press attaché Karine Viseur disclosed her complaint during an interview with RTL, recounting events that reportedly occurred in the studios of Belgian state broadcaster RTBF in 2010.
Viseur alleges that during her work on promoting the 2010 film Comme les cinq doigts de la main, where Bruel was a co-star, he inappropriately pressed against her in a make-up room and subsequently forced her into a restroom, attempting to embrace her while passing his hands under her dress. Although she initially filed a complaint in 2010, Viseur retracted it due to a lack of support from the local film and TV community, influenced by Bruel’s prominence.
Watch on Deadline
Her claims emerge just a week after an investigative report by Mediapart revealed allegations from eight women accusing Bruel of acts of sexual violence spanning from 1992 to 2019.
Among them is Daniela Elstner, managing director of the French cinema and TV export agency Unifrance, who publicly shared her accusations and her decision to file a police complaint. Her allegations stem from an incident during the Unifrance French Film Festival in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1997, when she was starting her career as an assistant.
In response to these allegations, Bruel’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, stated that his client “never overridden a refusal” and “never forced anyone into a sexual act or relationship.”
Additionally, last week’s report from Mediapart mentioned another rape complaint against Bruel related to an incident allegedly occurring at the 2012 Dinard British Film Festival, where he served as jury president. The individual making this claim has not publicized details, as the case is currently under preliminary investigation by the prosecutor’s office in Saint Malo.
Viseur expressed that the courage displayed by other women in filing complaints has inspired her to revive her own, despite the expiration of the statute of limitations. “I will not back down, and if I can give a voice to other people, to other women in Belgium, I will be there to support and assist them,” she stated.
