The television host Jean-Marc Morandini, already sent back to correctional for "corruption of minors", will also be tried for "sexual harassment" and "hidden work" in another case, said a source familiar with the matter, confirming information by BFM TV.
In an order dated December 23, the investigating judge in charge of the investigations ordered the referral of Jean-Marc Morandini to the Paris Criminal Court for "sexual harassment" against a complainant, and that of his company production of "Don't Zap!"
Production ”for“ covert work ”in respect of five complainants.
This case concerns the filming of the erotic series "The Falcons" that the host of Cnews had directed.
As reported by BFM TV, the investigation revealed that Jean-Marc Morandini had created the character Catherine Leclerc in order to be able to approach young actors on casting sites with the aim of making them shoot videos of a sexual nature.
Sexual harassment retained for a young person
The facts of sexual harassment are characterized for only a young man, estimated the investigating judge. The judge considered that the host had “used any form of serious pressure [towards him] with the real or apparent aim of obtaining for his benefit an act of a sexual nature (…) and this in particular by means of creation of the totally fictitious character of Catherine Leclerc, maternal and reassuring figure inspiring confidence in the young man, who encouraged him to always push his limits in the act of a sexual nature, under the alleged pretext of working on his posture as an actor ”.
Seized of this complaint, the Paris public prosecutor's office had closed its investigation in December 2016. But the plaintiffs had obtained in 2018 the resumption of the investigations by an investigating judge.
"There had been classification without follow-up to five complaints, there is a dismissal for four of the five", underlined Me Céline Lasek, lawyer of the host.
Regarding the fifth, "Jean-Marc Morandini will demonstrate that he has not committed harassment in court," she added.
The five young people had also denounced acts of "hidden work", the production company not having declared the actors to social organizations.
Already prosecuted for corruption of minors
Jean-Marc Morandini was sent back in November 2021 to the criminal court for “corruption of minors”.
In this case, the host of CNews is accused by two teenagers who were 15 and 16 years old at the time of the facts, in 2009 and 2013. Jean-Marc Morandini would have, according to the first, exchanged particularly raw text messages.
In the second, met during a casting for an erotic film project, he would have asked to undress before asking him to mimic a masturbation scene.
In his defense, the host explained that he could not have known that the youngest of his accusers was a minor, and he totally denies the facts alleged by the second.
