Patrick Bruel cancels tour following examination for rape and sexual assault charges
The 67-year-old singer, undergoing examination in four sexual violence cases, abandons his 35 scheduled dates from October onwards.
Undergoing examination in four cases, Bruel abandons his 35 dates
Patrick Bruel announced on Tuesday 1 September the cancellation of his French tour, which was due to begin on 2 October with 35 dates to celebrate the 35th anniversary of his album Alors Regarde, released in 1989 and sold to over three million copies, according to France 24 - France.
The singer, aged 67, has been undergoing examination since June for rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment across four separate cases. He is moreover the subject of numerous other complaints.
In a message published on Instagram, Bruel explains his decision: "If I wanted to maintain it until now, it was neither a challenge nor a provocation. But I note that today, this tour has become something else. It has become the embodiment of a debate that transcends it."
The singer makes no explicit reference to the accusations in his message. He does, however, mention the "150,000 people" who were awaiting this tour, as well as "nearly a hundred" collaborators mobilised for months in its preparation.
For several weeks, political leaders and mayors had been calling on the 1990s former pop idol to refrain from performing on stage, as dozens of women accuse him of sexual assault.
The four cases for which Bruel is undergoing examination concern: a rape in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 2008, an attempted rape in 2010 in Brussels, sexual assault and sexual harassment in Perpignan in 2019, and a case of sexual harassment in Ajaccio in 2019.
The singer benefits from the more favourable status of assisted witness in four other matters: a rape in Dinard in 2012, a rape in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in 2015, an attempted rape between 2010 and 2011 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, and sexual harassment in 2019 in Nyon, Switzerland.
Patrick Bruel contests all the facts alleged against him and asserts that he has never "forced a woman".
Source: France 24 - France