Six models file complaint against fashion mogul Gérald Marie
Six former models have filed a complaint in Paris against Gérald Marie, former head of a modelling agency, for rape, sexual abuse and human trafficking.
Six models file complaint against fashion mogul Gérald Marie
A major figure in the world of haute couture is now the subject of legal proceedings for human trafficking. Six women, all former models, have turned to Paris authorities to report the actions of Gérald Marie, who presided over one of the most powerful agencies in the sector.
The complainants accuse the man of having raped them and subjected them to organised sexual exploitation. During his reign over the industry, Marie set astronomical fees for stars such as Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. Nicknamed the "king of supermodels", he controlled the professional future of many young recruits.
According to the testimonies gathered, the defendant is said to have established a system of subjugation based on the vulnerability of the victims. Their accommodation, their income and invitations to events would constitute so many levers used to establish his grip. This domination would have enabled repeated abuse and the exploitation of the female body.
These new complaints represent a significant legal turning point. The previous accusations, often time-barred, could now be encompassed in a proceeding for human trafficking. French law indeed provides for longer periods of limitation for this particular crime.
The lawyers of the victims hope that this case will encourage other women to break their silence. This case sheds light on the power dynamics and abuses that characterised the Paris fashion world during the 1980s and 1990s.
Source: BILD