In an interview on RTL this Tuesday morning, the Minister for Gender Equality, Aurore Bergé, dodged questions about the Patrick Bruel controversy. When asked if she would sign a petition to cancel the singer’s shows, Bergé firmly replied that it is his right, along with the producers and the French people, to decide. However, she also made it clear that she is not a fan of Bruel either.
Against the backdrop of this interview, Bergé, seemingly determined to balance the scales, defended what she called “the rule of law”: the presumption of innocence for the singer, but also “respect for the word of the victims.” There are currently three investigations ongoing against Patrick Bruel for sexual violence, with a petition gaining traction. In France, two complaints are under investigation – one for rape in Saint-Malo in 2012, and another for attempted rape and sexual assault in Paris in 1997. A third investigation has been opened in Belgium based on a complaint of sexual assault in Brussels.
Meanwhile, Patrick Bruel, 66, through his lawyer Christophe Ingrain, denies any wrongdoing and continues his “Alors Regarde 35” anniversary tour despite the controversy. This decision led the feminist collective Salon Feministe to launch a petition signed by various personalities and associations, urging the singer to step back while the legal process unfolds.
