Forced kisses, insistent and inappropriate gestures… French DJ Arnaud Rebotini is accused of harassment and sexual assault by seven women, who testify in an article by Mediapart, published on Sunday.
All adults at the time of the facts reported, these women describe forced kisses as well as insistent and inappropriate gestures – which can be criminally qualified as harassment and sexual assault. Notably known for having composed the soundtrack of the film “120 Battements par minute”, for which he received a César in 2018, the 54-year-old artist talks to Mediapart about “old-fashioned” flirting, but denies being a “sexual attacker”.
Several attacks in the same evening
No complaint has been filed to date regarding these facts. They performed between 2006 and 2019, alongside concerts or festivals. Several performed on the same evening, notably during the 2014 edition of the Rave On festival, in Annecy (Haute-Savoie). A young woman, aged 28 at the time, said she was dragged there behind a truck by Arnaud Rebotini. “He kissed me and groped me all over. He was no longer in flirting, he was in consuming his little piece of meat. I was like a shrimp facing a sperm whale,” she tells Mediapart.
“Yes, I was a dirty, old-fashioned flirt, but I don’t think I was a sexual aggressor,” reacts the musician. If I behaved badly and they suffered trauma, I apologize. These are things I wouldn't do again, I've completely moved on. »
Several players in the music industry have also confided to Mediapart that they were aware of this inappropriate behavior by the artist. “But it brings in a lot of money, fills entire rooms. Why give up this saving given the fact that no accusations have been made public? “, confided one of them.