Slimane accused of sexual harassment: why an investigation was decided

While accusations of sexual harassment target Slimane, the Saint-Etienne prosecutor's office has announced the opening of an investigation against the singer. The man who filed complaints against the artist for sexual harassment mentions tangible elements.

This Thursday, November 7, an investigation for “sexual harassment aggravated by the use of a digital or electronic medium” was opened by the Sainte-Etienne prosecutor's office against the singer Slimane, according to information from BFMTV. The investigation was entrusted to the Organized and Specialized Crime Division of the Interdepartmental Directorate of the National Police of the Loire, indicated the public prosecutor of Saint-Etienne in a press release.

As a reminder, a plant was filed for sexual harassment against the singer on Monday, October 28. The alleged facts allegedly took place on the night of December 17 to 18, 2023 at the Zénith in Saint-Étienne as part of the star's “Cupidon Tour”, according to the man who made the accusations. Slimane risks a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros if the facts are proven.

“The singer insists and drags her into his dressing room”

According to information from Parisien, the technician who accuses Slimane would have, according to his version of the facts, been pinned against a wall by the artist, who would have then “imposed” on him “an “embrace”. A scene which would have taken place after the concert, backstage, during a party organized to mark the end of the first part of the tour, around one o'clock in the morning. “Slimane explains to him that he wants to have sex with him. His interlocutor replied that he was not interested, that he was heterosexual and married, but the singer insisted and dragged him into his dressing room,” explains the daily.

In the columns of the Parisien, the plaintiff's lawyer, Anne-Sophie Charrieras, reported that despite the state of unease in which his client was plunged, Slimane insisted to the latter, asking him if “other members of the team” might be interested. After leaving his dressing room and joining the tour bus, he allegedly received “for two and a half hours a multitude of messages and videos of a sexual, even pornographic nature”, the magistrate assures.

The next morning, the technician reported the alleged facts to the company that employed him. The latter forwarded the information to the tour production company – Play Two – and informed them of their decision to withdraw their two employees from Slimane's tour. Still according to information from Parisien, Slimane was received as well as his manager by the production to be “reminded of the ethical principles of their collaboration”. A new team has been recruited for a resumption of concerts scheduled for February 2025.

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While rumors are circulating that the technician accusing Slimane was offered money in exchange for his silence, his lawyer was keen to dispel any suspicion: “Since the events (my client) has been worried about the repercussions this will have on his family and his professional future. Slimane is very popular, with people and artists – he is at the Enfoirés – and my client is afraid of being sidelined.” However, it is “unbearable to find yourself in the position of someone who has been bought.” “He doesn't want to throw the artist to the wolves,” she continued in the columns of the Parisien. For its part, the family of the accused contacted by the daily newspaper speaks of a “crazy story” and says it has no knowledge of the complaint.

TF1 decides to continue its relationship with Slimane

The TV star, known for his role as a judge in The Voice Kids and who represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest last May with the song Mon Amour,already behaved inappropriately during the “Versus” tour with singer Vitaa. “In the first months of 2024, more or less precise facts are reported in the media,” indicates Le Parisien. On the other hand, here, no complaint has been filed.

Slimane chose not to react directly, and not to speak publicly about this complaint, leaving his entourage to assure the media that he was very surprised by this affair and by the allegations made by the complainant. The popular singer, who has become an icon of TF1, is now targeted on social networks for his silence. Criticism is also flying at TF1, which has chosen to continue its collaboration with him. Let us recall that Slimane is presumed innocent and that no binding legal proceedings have been initiated against the artist.

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16:08 – An investigation opened for "aggravated sexual harassment"

"Elements of proof". This is what the Saint-Etienne prosecutor was missing to open an investigation against Slimane, accused of sexual harassment by one of his former technicians. This Thursday, November 1, an investigation for “sexual harassment aggravated by the use of a digital or “electronic” medium was opened by the Sainte-Etienne prosecutor's office against “Slimane, according to information from “60~em>BFMTV. It was entrusted to the “Division of Criminality Organized and Specialized by the Interdepartmental Directorate of the National Police of the Loire, indicated the public prosecutor of Saint-Etienne in a press release.