French Singer Patrick Bruel Taken Into Police Custody for Questioning Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Patrick Bruel, one of the best-selling French-speaking artists of all time, has been taken into police custody on Monday (June 8) as part of an investigation into alleged sexual violence.

The probe currently concerns 13 alleged victims, according to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.

Bruel denies all allegations. His lawyers, Christophe Ingrain, Céline Lasek and Fanny Colin, said in a statement that the performer had “for several weeks made it known that he was at the disposal of the justice system, in order to finally respond within the framework of the judicial proceedings before the competent authority.” “He will answer all investigators’ questions and provide all the elements necessary to demonstrate his innocence,” they added.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the investigation initially focused on allegations made by three women accusing Bruel of sexual assault and attempted rape between 1997 and 2001. Authorities said additional alleged victims were subsequently identified and interviewed during the course of the investigation.

The case has attracted growing attention in France in recent months as Bruel is one of France’s most famous entertainers with a career spanning music, film and television — stretching over four decades.

At least eight formal complaints were filed in May alleging sexual assault, attempted rape or rape, with alleged incidents spanning from 1991 to 2015. These include complaints filed by Daniela Elstner, managing director of Unifrance, regarding an alleged attempted rape and sexual assault in 1997 in Acapulco; an alleged rape said to have occurred in Brittany in 2012, during the Dinard British and Irish Film Festival, where Bruel was serving as jury president. Another complaint was filed earlier this year in Belgium by Karine Viseur, who alleges she was sexually assaulted while working as a press representative for a film distributor promoting “Comme les cinq doigts de la main,” in which Bruel starred.

In total, roughly 30 women have publicly accused Bruel of sexual violence in investigations published by several French and Belgian media outlets, including Mediapart, Elle, RTL and RTBF.

Amid the ongoing investigation, Bruel announced on May 29 that he was canceling his upcoming tour. He has also withdrawn from Les Enfoirés, the annual charity concert collective, while several scheduled performances in Montreal have been canceled.