“
Join us!
"The former model Carre Otis launched Tuesday, September 7 in Paris an appeal for victims against the former boss of Elite Europe Gerald Marie that she and fifteen other women accuse of"
rape
", facts likely to be prescribed.
Read alsoInvestigation for rape of minors targeting Gerald Marie, the former boss of the Elite modeling agency
The former American supermodel and actress was heard Tuesday morning by investigators from the Youth Protection Brigade in the preliminary investigation opened in September 2020 after a complaint from a former BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth against Gerald Marie for “
rape
” and “
sexual assault
”, in particular on minors.
About fifteen women involved
Visibly moved, Carre Otis spoke in the afternoon at a press conference alongside five other models who make the same accusations and meet for the first time: Ebba Karlsson, Shawna Lee, Lesa Amoore, Jill Dodd and Emily Mott. Two others (EJ Moran and Laurie Marsden) were following the press conference online from overseas. “
Being here in France and testifying to the French police is so meaningful to me. It is time for this man to be held to account for his crimes,
”Carre Otis said.
In a report to the French justice, the ex-model had denounced "
countless rapes
" perpetrated by Gerald Marie from April 1986, when she was a model for the Elite agency and aged 17. “
I was young, alone and in a foreign country, with no family or network to support me. I depended on Mr. Marie for my food, my accommodation and my work. I knew I had to put up with this abuse in order to be able to continue working. I was deeply traumatized,
”said Carre Otis, in tears.
At this point, about fifteen women have spoken publicly or have come forward to the investigators of the BPM.
All these accusations are based on facts likely to be time-barred in the eyes of French justice, making a possible trial unlikely.
Civil proceedings launched in the United States
"
We hope to attract more recent victims, if only one victim
", in order to be able to initiate proceedings, said the lawyer for several of them, Me Anne-Claire Lejeune.
According to her, "
several witnesses, and in particular former leaders of Elite, were heard and corroborated the facts described by the victims
".
The models, supported by the NGO Model Alliance, have all blamed the fashion industry, "
outside any rule
" according to Lesa Amoore, but also the limitation periods considered too short.
“
It only protects abusers,
” said Model alliance founder Sara Ziff.
Read also Accusations of rape are increasing against Gerald Marie, former boss of the Elite agency and ex-husband of Linda Evangelista
Carre Otis, for his part, launched civil proceedings in the United States against Gerald Marie in August, thanks to a law in the State of New York which temporarily allowed alleged victims of sexual abuse during their childhood to initiate such a procedure, regardless of their age now.
"
There is a chance
" that this procedure will be more successful, conceded Carre Otis, 52 years old today.
Solicited by AFP, Me Céline Bekerman, lawyer for Gerald Marie, indicated that her client "
denies with dismay these false and defamatory allegations
".
"
He reserves his possible declarations to the competent authorities
," she added.