France – French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, 67, has been formally charged with rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment following a long-running judicial investigation into allegations dating back to the 1990s. Prosecutors opened a formal case after months of accusations by more than 20 women, turning an initially informal inquiry into a full-scale criminal proceeding. Bruel, a major figure in French pop culture with a decades-long career in music and film, attended a police station by appointment earlier this week and spent several hours being questioned by judicial authorities before the charges were announced on Wednesday night. The judge overseeing the case ordered that Bruel’s name be added to the French sex offender register as part of the legal measures accompanying the charges. The complaints include detailed accounts from several women, among them director Daniela Elstner, with allegations spanning from incidents in the 1990s to more recent years. A new complaint filed this week concerns an alleged attempted rape of a 19-year-old woman at Bruel’s home in 2000, adding to the list of accusations under review. Bruel’s legal team has denied all the allegations, saying he rejects any claims of violence, brutality or constraint, and judicial proceedings remain ongoing.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.