French TV personality faces preliminary charge of rape

20 December 2023, 15:14

France Sexual Misconduct
France Sexual Misconduct. Picture: PA

Patrick Poivre d’Arvor denies wrongdoing, and has sued 16 of his accusers.

One of France’s most famous TV presenters has been handed a preliminary charge of rape and abusing his authority as police investigate complaints by about 20 women who have accused him of sexual misconduct over decades.

Patrick Poivre d’Arvor denies wrongdoing, and has sued 16 of his accusers.

A revered personality who hosted France’s most popular news programme for more than two decades, he insists the sexual encounters were consensual.

The prosecutor’s office in the Paris suburb of Nanterre said Poivre d’Arvor was given preliminary charges of rape by a person abusing his authority for alleged actions dating from 2009.

He was also named as an “assisted witness” in another alleged rape from 2004.

Both incidents involved author Florence Porcel, who filed legal complaints in 2021. She has publicly identified herself as an alleged victim.

Under French law, preliminary charges mean magistrates have strong reason to suspect wrongdoing but allow time for further investigation before deciding whether to send a case to trial.

The “assisted witness” status also allows time for further investigations that could lead to eventual charges or to a case being dropped.

The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said it opened two preliminary investigations in 2021 into numerous accusations against Poivre d’Arvor, including Ms Porcel’s.

One investigation, involving complaints by about 20 women, was closed and the other is ongoing, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement to the AP.

Poivre d’Arvor’s lawyers said in a statement that he “firmly contests the facts alleged by Madame Porcel, as he has since the first day, and has provided numerous elements of material evidence”.

Lawyers Jacqueline Laffont and Julie Benedetti noted that prosecutors recommended dropping the case, but the investigating judges unusually filed the charge anyway.

Poivre d’Arvor was the star presenter of French TV network TF1’s evening newscast between 1987 and 2008, making him one of the most famous people in France, where he is widely known as just “PPDA”.

An author, he also used to anchor a prestigious TV literary programme.

Soon after Ms Porcel’s complaint, Poivre d’Arvor acknowledged in an interview with TV channel TMC “small kisses in the neck, sometimes small compliments or sometimes some charm or seduction” – acts he said younger generations no longer accepted.

Dozens of women have spoken out in recent years to accuse Poivre d’Arvor of rape, sexual abuse or harassment from 1981 to 2018. Most accusations are now too old to prosecute.

Some of the women welcomed the announcement of the rape charge.

“Finally!” posted author Helene Devynck, who published a book last year titled Impunity that includes interviews with some 60 women who accused Poivre d’Arvor of sexual wrongdoing.

Ms Devynck’s book denounced France’s historically lax attitude toward sexual abuse allegations and the limited impact in France of the global #MeToo movement.

One of France’s biggest film stars, Gerard Depardieu, is also under renewed scrutiny for his alleged behaviour towards women after a recent documentary showed him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea.

Depardieu was handed preliminary charges of rape and sexual assault in 2020.

The France-2 documentary says 16 women have accused him of harassing, groping or sexually assaulting them. Depardieu denies any wrongdoing.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk to his cabinet when he becomes president

Donald Trump confirms tech billionaire Elon Musk will join cabinet when he becomes president

Several sandbags to contain the new flood in Aldaia, Valencia

Flood-hit areas of Spain brace for torrential rain forecast as orange alert issued

The husband of Erin Jayne Plummer has reportedly died in a suspected self-harm incident

Husband of Australian TV star dies suddenly two years after her suicide leaving three kids orphaned

Police in Zhuhai after the incident

Dozens of people killed and over 40 injured after car ploughs into crowd outside stadium in China

A damaged tram in Amsterdam as the city continues to face tensions following violence last week

Violence reignites in Amsterdam as tram set on fire days on from 'anti-Semitic attacks'

Footage showed the pair tumble down the flight of stairs before Kanjo grips the woman’s necklaces

WATCH: Moment Syrian asylum seeker pushes 91-year-old down stairs after violent mugging

Karam Kanjo, 26, was captured on CCTV assaulting the elderly woman

Fury in Sweden after Syrian asylum seeker pushes 91-year-old down stairs after violently mugging her

The 'skip forward' voyage will last up to four years.

Cruise company offers four-year 'skip forward' voyage for Americans to avoid Donald Trump's presidency

Millions of Brits fell silent to honour the fallen on Monday.

'We will remember them': Nation falls silent as millions of Brits remember the fallen for Armistice Day

Keir Starmer has attended Armistice Day events in Paris

Starmer becomes first British leader since Churchill to attend Armistice Day ceremony in France

Putin and Trump in 2019

Putin has 'no plans' to speak to Trump, as Kremlin slams claims that US urged Russia not to escalate Ukraine war

Joe Biden stumbled as he went on a seaside walk with his wife Jill.

WATCH: Moment 81-year-old Joe Biden stumbles on sandy beach during seaside getaway

Donald Trump is a vocal supporter of Bitcoin

Bitcoin soars to record high after Trump election victory

Toys of the new Wicked film have been sending fans to an adult film site.

Toy company Mattel apologizes after Wicked toy boxes link to porn website

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

'We will not allow sporting events to be hijacked': UK government responds to Israeli warning after Amsterdam violence

Donald Trump has reportedly held a phone call with Putin

Donald Trump 'urges Putin not to escalate Ukraine war' in phone call with Russian leader