French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, one of France's top-selling recording artists and a former world poker champion, has been placed under formal investigation for rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Bruel, a 67-year-old major figure in French pop culture and heartthrob of the early 1990s, is central to one of the biggest #MeToo cases in the French music industry.
The investigation follows allegations from more than 20 women, with some reports highlighting nine specific allegations of sexual abuse. While some claims date back to the 1990s, prosecutors have focused on offenses allegedly committed between 2008 and 2019, including a period between 2010 and 2019.
Bruel has denied all charges. The local prosecutor's office stated that being placed under formal judicial investigation means there are reasonable grounds to believe a crime was committed and is a step toward going to trial. An examining magistrate will now look more deeply into the case, as prosecutors have also sought to place him in pre-trial detention.