French film producer Alain Sarde, 72 years old, has been accused of raping or sexually abusing nine women, most of whom were minors at the time. The incidents took place in the 1980s and 1990s. These allegations were reported by French women’s magazine Elle on Monday.
The women, who chose to remain anonymous, shared their stories in the magazine. One actress recounted being raped by Sarde in 1985 when she was just 15 years old. She had been invited to his apartment in Paris under the guise of discussing a professional role. Other women also reported instances of rape, attempted rape, and other forms of sexual violence to the magazine. None of the victims had previously filed a complaint.
In response to the accusations, Sarde’s lawyer stated that they were false. However, Sarde denied the claims and emphasized that he had never used violence or coercion in his interactions with women, always prioritizing their consent. Alain Sarde has been involved in producing over 150 films worldwide since the mid-1970s, collaborating on acclaimed works such as ‘Mulholland Drive’ and ‘The Pianist’. He retired from the film world around ten years ago.
These new allegations come just before the start of the Cannes Film Festival, where rumors of potential #MeToo revelations had already been circulating in the French media. This is not the first time Sarde’s name has been linked to such accusations; he was mentioned in a prostitution case involving several well-known individuals in 1997 but was cleared of prosecution two years later.
