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Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Cannes Film Festival bars Dossier 137 actor accused of rape in new #MeToo policy
Actor Theo Navarro-Mussy, who plays a police officer in a supporting role in the film Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll, was absent from the movie's premiere at Cannes. PHOTO: AFP CANNES, France - The Cannes film festival barred an actor in a prominent French film from the red carpet on May 15 because of sexual assault allegations, unveiling a new policy under pressure from lawmakers and activists. Theo Navarro-Mussy plays a police officer in a supporting role in the film Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll, which premiered on May 15 in the festival's main competition. According to French magazine Telerama, which broke the news, three former partners accused the actor of rapes in 2018, 2019, and 2020 but the case was dropped in April for lack of evidence. The three plaintiffs, all actors themselves, told Telerama they planned to appeal and file a civil lawsuit. Cannes Festival director Thierry Fremaux confirmed to Telerama that Navarro-Mussy had been excluded from the world's premier film festival because an appeal was under way. 'The judicial process is still ongoing,' Fremaux was quoted as saying, in remarks confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson. The treatment of Navarro-Mussy - if it becomes the basis of a consistent policy - would imply that any actor or director under active investigation for sexual assault would be excluded. It would align Cannes with the Cesar Awards, France's equivalent of the Oscars, which announced in January 2023 that nominees convicted of or under investigation for sexual assault would be barred. Navarro-Mussy, 34, who had a breakthrough role in the French medical TV drama Hippocrate, denies the allegations but he told Telerama he understood the decision by festival organisers. He did not join his co-stars including renowned French actress Lea Drucker on May 15 as they made their way up the red carpet to the premiere. Inquiry Elsewhere on May 15, a vice-president of one of the parallel film sections at Cannes was suspended after being publicly denounced for sexual violence during an event. The executive from the ACID Cannes section has been suspended pending an investigation, the organisation said. In the past, Fremaux has sought to avoid taking a clear stance on the numerous sexual assault cases that have dogged figures in the film industry, particularly since the #MeToo movement. He faced criticism from some activists in 2023 over the choice of the film Jeanne Du Barry to open the festival, which starred Johnny Depp. The movie marked Depp's comeback after a toxic court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard that revealed his turbulent private life involving alcohol, drugs and domestic abuse allegations. The #MeToo movement shook the French film industry from 2017, as it did Hollywood, exposing widespread sexual misconduct and challenging a long-standing culture of silence. Renowned French actress Lea Drucker attending the premiere of Dossier 137 at Cannes on May 15. PHOTO: EPA-EFE A recent French parliamentary inquiry into the entertainment industry, sparked by allegations of sexual abuse by actor Judith Godreche, found that the mistreatment of performers was 'endemic'. Inquiry chair Sandrine Rousseau, an outspoken feminist lawmaker from the Green party, called on the Cannes Festival to set an example when the findings were published in April. 'The Cannes Film Festival must be the place where this shift in mindset happens,' she said. 'Worried' Navarro-Mussy said he was 'worried' about his career, adding that he hoped the fact the case against him had been closed was 'taken into account'. 'I have explained myself to the justice system and at this stage have been cleared,' he told Telerama. His lawyer said that he had not been notified of any appeal against the decision to close the investigation. Moll, the director of Dossier 137, told AFP he was unaware of the allegations against the actor before starting to work with Navarro-Mussy 'and during the film nothing happened'. Moll's prize-winning previous film, The Night Of The 12th, tackled the issue of violence against women. He said he was 'very sensitive to this issue'. Allegations of rape between partners are among the most difficult to prove, meaning prosecutors rarely take them to court unless there is clear evidence. French screen legend Gerard Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence on the opening day of the Cannes film festival this year after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. In other firsts at Cannes this year, the festival announced a new dress code that outlaws extravagantly large outfits that clog up the red carpet as well as 'total nudity'. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Cannes Festival policy bans actor accused of rape
The Cannes film festival barred an actor in a prominent French film from the red carpet on Thursday because of sexual assault allegations, unveiling a new policy under pressure from lawmakers and activists. Theo Navarro-Mussy plays a police officer in a supporting role in the film "Dossier 137" by Dominik Moll, which is to premiere on Thursday in the festival's main competition. According to French magazine Telerama, which broke the news, three former partners accused the actor of rapes in 2018, 2019, and 2020 but the case was dropped last month for lack of evidence. The three women, all actors themselves, told Telerama they planned to appeal and file a civil lawsuit. Cannes Festival director Thierry Fremaux confirmed to Telerama that Navarro-Mussy had been excluded because an appeal was underway. "The judicial process is still ongoing," Fremaux was quoted as saying in remarks confirmed to AFP by a festival spokesperson. The treatment of Navarro-Mussy, if it becomes the basis of a consistent policy, would imply that any actor or director under active investigation for sexual assault would be excluded. It would align Cannes with the Cesar Awards, France's equivalent of the Oscars, which announced in January 2023 that nominees convicted of or under investigation for sexual assault would be barred. Navarro-Mussy, 34, who had a breakthrough role in the French medical TV drama "Hippocrate", denies the allegations but he told Telerama he understood the decision by festival organisers. - Inquiry - In the past, Fremaux has sought to avoid taking a clear stance on the numerous sexual assault cases that have dogged figures in the film industry, particularly since the #MeToo movement. He faced criticism from some activists in 2023 over the choice of the film "Jeanne du Barry" to open the festival, which starred Johnny Depp. The movie marked Depp's comeback after a toxic court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard that revealed his turbulent private life involving alcohol, drugs and domestic abuse allegations. The #MeToo movement shook the French film industry from 2017, as it did Hollywood, exposing widespread sexual misconduct and challenging a long-standing culture of silence. A recent French parliamentary inquiry into the entertainment industry, sparked by allegations of sexual abuse by actor Judith Godreche, found that the mistreatment of performers was "endemic". Inquiry chair Sandrine Rousseau, an outspoken feminist lawmaker from the Green party, called on the Cannes Festival to set an example in stamping out sexual abuse, as well as physical and psychological violence. "The Cannes Film Festival must be the place where this shift in mindset happens, the place where we say loud and clear... amid the glitter and the red carpets... that finally, we all want things to change. Every one of us. At every level of the industry," she said last month. - 'Worried' - Navarro-Mussy said he was "worried" about his career, adding that he hoped the fact the case had been closed was "taken into account". "I have explained myself to the justice system and at this stage have been cleared," he added. His lawyer said that he had not been notified of any appeal against the decision to close the investigation. Moll, the director of "Dossier 137", told AFP he was unaware of the allegations before starting to work with Navarro-Mussy "and during the film nothing happened". Moll's prize-winning previous film, "The Night of the 12th", tackled the issue of violence against women. He said he was "very sensitive to this issue". Allegations of rape between partners are among the most difficult to prove, meaning prosecutors rarely take them to court unless there is clear evidence. French screen legend Gerard Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence on the opening day of the Cannes film festival this year after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. The 76-year-old, who has acted in more than 200 films and television series, is the highest-profile figure caught up in France's response to the #MeToo movement. jt-fbe-adp/ah/gil
France 24
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
New Cannes Festival policy bans actor accused of rape
Theo Navarro-Mussy plays a police officer in a supporting role in the film "Dossier 137" by Dominik Moll, which is to premiere on Thursday in the festival's main competition. According to French magazine Telerama, which broke the news, three former partners accused the actor of rapes in 2018, 2019, and 2020 but the case was dropped last month for lack of evidence. The three women, all actors themselves, told Telerama they planned to appeal and file a civil lawsuit. Cannes Festival director Thierry Fremaux confirmed to Telerama that Navarro-Mussy had been excluded because an appeal was underway. "The judicial process is still ongoing," Fremaux was quoted as saying in remarks confirmed to AFP by a festival spokesperson. The treatment of Navarro-Mussy, if it becomes the basis of a consistent policy, would imply that any actor or director under active investigation for sexual assault would be excluded. It would align Cannes with the Cesar Awards, France's equivalent of the Oscars, which announced in January 2023 that nominees convicted of or under investigation for sexual assault would be barred. Navarro-Mussy, 34, who had a breakthrough role in the French medical TV drama "Hippocrate", denies the allegations but he told Telerama he understood the decision by festival organisers. Inquiry In the past, Fremaux has sought to avoid taking a clear stance on the numerous sexual assault cases that have dogged figures in the film industry, particularly since the #MeToo movement. He faced criticism from some activists in 2023 over the choice of the film "Jeanne du Barry" to open the festival, which starred Johnny Depp. The movie marked Depp's comeback after a toxic court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard that revealed his turbulent private life involving alcohol, drugs and domestic abuse allegations. The #MeToo movement shook the French film industry from 2017, as it did Hollywood, exposing widespread sexual misconduct and challenging a long-standing culture of silence. A recent French parliamentary inquiry into the entertainment industry, sparked by allegations of sexual abuse by actor Judith Godreche, found that the mistreatment of performers was "endemic". Inquiry chair Sandrine Rousseau, an outspoken feminist lawmaker from the Green party, called on the Cannes Festival to set an example in stamping out sexual abuse, as well as physical and psychological violence. "The Cannes Film Festival must be the place where this shift in mindset happens, the place where we say loud and clear... amid the glitter and the red carpets... that finally, we all want things to change. Every one of us. At every level of the industry," she said last month. 'Worried' Navarro-Mussy said he was "worried" about his career, adding that he hoped the fact the case had been closed was "taken into account". "I have explained myself to the justice system and at this stage have been cleared," he added. His lawyer said that he had not been notified of any appeal against the decision to close the investigation. Moll, the director of "Dossier 137", told AFP he was unaware of the allegations before starting to work with Navarro-Mussy "and during the film nothing happened". Moll's prize-winning previous film, "The Night of the 12th", tackled the issue of violence against women. He said he was "very sensitive to this issue". Allegations of rape between partners are among the most difficult to prove, meaning prosecutors rarely take them to court unless there is clear evidence. French screen legend Gerard Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence on the opening day of the Cannes film festival this year after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. The 76-year-old, who has acted in more than 200 films and television series, is the highest-profile figure caught up in France's response to the #MeToo movement.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Karla Sofía Gascón's Racist Tweets and the Cautionary Tale of ‘Emilia Pérez'
The title character of 'Emilia Pérez' is not a good person. Her lawyer, Rita (Zoe Saldaña), thinks she can become one, agreeing to facilitate a notorious cartel leader's gender transition in part because 'Changing the body changes the soul / Changing the soul changes society / Changing society changes everything.' ('Emilia Pérez' is a musical, so these lines are delivered in song.) But the ensuing story thoroughly disproves Rita's thesis; Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) herself may think she's changed inside as well as out, throwing herself into a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of the very organizations she once led, but she soon gives into her own worst impulses. When Emilia threatens violence against her ex-wife, Jessi (Selena Gomez), who's unaware of her identity, for potentially moving their children away, it sets off a deadly chain of events that claim Emilia's life. In the end, Emilia can't outrun the sins of her past, and she pays the ultimate price for them. Such moral realism stands out in what's otherwise a proudly fantastical film. In 'Emilia Pérez,' a pre-surgery consultation can become a borderline Busby Berkeley number, but a murderer can't become a saint just by embracing their long-repressed identity. Just because Emilia belongs to a persecuted group doesn't mean she can't persecute others. It's a theme more prescient than director Jacques Audiard could have foreseen. Mere hours ago, 'Emilia Pérez' was an Oscar frontrunner, with a field-leading 13 nominations and the backing of the world's largest streaming service. Now, it's a cautionary tale in the dangers of building a warm and fuzzy narrative around a reality that's far more complicated. More from Variety 'Emilia Pérez' Star Karla Sofía Gascón Under Fire Over Tweets About Muslims, George Floyd, Oscars Diversity Karla Sofia Gascón Didn't Violate Oscar Rules by Accusing 'People Working With Fernanda Torres' of 'Tearing Me and "Emilia Pérez" Down' France's Cesar Awards Nominations: 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' 'Beating Hearts,' 'Emilia Perez' Lead the Race On Thursday, social media users uncovered — and as of this writing, are still uncovering — posts by Gascón disparaging Islam ('deeply disgusting'), George Floyd ('a drug addict swindler') and a diversified Academy Awards ('an Afro-Korean festival'). Gascón is currently nominated for best actress, and had already attracted mild controversy for disparaging 'people working with' fellow nominee Fernanda Torres in an interview. That flare-up pales in comparison with the current maelstrom, which jeopardizes not just Gascón's own campaign, but that of the movie named after, and thus inextricable from, her character. Before the posts resurfaced, 'Emilia Pérez' had the makings of a Netflix redemption tour. The disruptive company, barely over a decade into producing original content, has attained nearly every mark of entertainment industry acceptance except the biggest one of all: the Academy Award for best picture. While past hopefuls like 'Roma' and 'The Power of the Dog' have fallen short, Apple TV+ even beat Netflix to the punch, becoming the first streaming service to take the top prize with 'CODA' in 2022. After acquiring the film at Cannes, where its ensemble shared the award for best actress, 'Emilia Peréz' appeared to be Netflix's best chance to date. To set it up for success, Netflix built a strategy around Gascón as the face of the film, submitting her performance as a lead and Saldaña's as supporting even though the story is presented from Rita's point of view and Saldaña has more screen time. A cover story on Gascón in the Hollywood Reporter emphasized her involvement in the creative process, pushing director Audiard from an initially comic premise to a more sincere exploration of self-discovery. Up until today, that bet seemed to be paying off. Earlier this month, Gascón accepted the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy on behalf of the entire production, delivering an emotional 'message of hope' that 'you can never take away our soul, our resistance, our identity.' Gascón never called out her audience by name, but it was heavily implied that 'our' referred to transgender people, and 'you' referred to political movements motivated by fear and hatred of a demonized other — like the movement then weeks away from retaking the White House. It's in the nature of awards campaigns to be swayed by factors beyond the artistic merit of the movies in contention, and take on a life of their own apart from what they're selling. In a perverse way, the reelection of Donald Trump — who wasted no time in banning trans federal inmates from institutions that align with their gender and is also attempting to bar transgender troops from the military — could be seen as a boon for 'Emilia Pérez.' Never mind that the film itself cautioned against assigning moral value to someone based on their identity, as opposed to their actions; Netflix could position a vote for their strongest contender as a vote against the current administration, something to feel good about in a moment that for many of the Oscars' voters and viewers alike feels extremely bad. But with Gascón's posts, that fiction — and all marketing pushes are, on some level, fiction — has run face-first into reality. Gascón, a Spanish performer who transitioned in her middle career, may be transgender, but that's no guarantee she can't be Islamophobic, racist, or any of the other negative impressions given by her statements. The brewing scandal invites immediate questions about the fallout (Will Gascón's co-stars condemn her? Will she even attend the ceremony in March?) and how we got here (Did anyone vet her accounts in the eight months since the movie premiered at Cannes? Why is this not standard practice by now?). It also offers lessons in the assumptions we make, and likely shouldn't, about the inherent virtue of facing adversity. Then again, if you watched 'Emilia Pérez' closely, those lessons were there all along. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025 What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025
