The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation into singer Patrick Bruel following a complaint filed on March 12 for attempted rape and sexual assault. The office confirmed the inquiry on Tuesday, April 14.
Details of the Complaint
The prosecutor did not name the complainant but stated the individual “accused Patrick Bruel of a sexual assault alleged to have occurred several decades ago.” The complaint was filed by Daniela Elstner, the current Director General of Unifrance, the organization responsible for promoting French cinema internationally.
Her lawyer, Jade Dousselin, reacted to the news, stating, “We can only welcome the rapid opening of this preliminary investigation following Daniela Elstner’s complaint.” Dousselin added, “We will obviously cooperate fully with the Paris prosecutor’s office to provide all elements necessary for the truth to emerge.”
Alleged Incident Dates to 1997
The alleged events date back to November 1997 during the French Film Festival in Acapulco, Mexico. At the time, Daniela Elstner was an assistant at Unifrance. In a statement days after the complaint was filed, her lawyer explained that Elstner’s “approach today is less a desire for judicial condemnation than a need for liberation, for herself, and for all the others.”
Second Investigation in Saint-Malo
This is not the only active legal case involving the celebrity. The singer is also the subject of a separate rape investigation in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine), according to the local prosecutor. That inquiry was initiated following a complaint filed on September 30, 2024. A source close to the case indicates a woman has accused Patrick Bruel of rape in October 2012, on the sidelines of the Dinard British Film Festival, where the actor and singer was presiding over the jury.
The developments mark a significant tightening of judicial pressure on the well-known French entertainer, with multiple historical allegations now under formal examination by authorities.
