French pop‑star Patrick Bruel, 67, is now under judicial investigation for a series of alleged rape and sexual‑assault incidents, according to a court decision made yesterday.
After spending two days in custody in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris, he appeared before a panel of four judges who confirmed the prosecutor’s request to investigate him for multiple counts of rape, attempted rape and other sexual offences. The judges are still deciding whether he will remain in custody.
Bruel has consistently denied every accusation. In recent statements he insisted that he never forced himself on a woman, never drugged or manipulated anyone, and that he only ever respected a “no” answer.
The investigation is part of the court’s deeper look into the case, with his lawyers now able to review the prosecution file. In France most such procedures culminate in a trial.
The case has garnered support from feminist groups who see it as part of a broader push to hold powerful figures accountable in the wake of the Lyhanna murder, whose suspect had already faced earlier abuse claims.
Bruel, known for his 1980s hits like “Marre de cette nana‑là”, once inspired a fan‑base dubbed “Bruelmania”. Like actor Gérard Depardieu, another prominent French artist, he is among the country’s most celebrated stars to face sexual‑abuse accusations. Depardieu was given a suspended sentence last year for a sexual assault on a film set; he has since appealed the conviction.
Bruel’s recent performances were cancelled because of the allegations, as were most dates on his planned tour across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. He also had a prior batch of harassment complaints that were dropped in 2020 for lack of evidence.
In May, investigative website Mediapart reported that around 30 women had told similar stories of on‑film‑set or off‑stage harassment and assault. The accusers were joined last month by TV presenter Flavie Flament, who claimed that in 1991 Bruel drugged and raped her during a visit to his Paris home.
Although the Flament case and other older allegations are not among the nine cited by the judges today – as they are deemed too far back – the prosecutor has requested that they be re‑examined for possible inclusion under the charges.
In a recent Instagram post, Bruel reaffirmed that he has never forced himself on a woman nor used his fame to obtain non‑consensual relations.
