Latest news with #Rozon
Toronto Sun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Just for Laughs founder says his life has been ruined by sex assault allegations
Published Jul 09, 2025 • 1 minute read Gilbert Rozon briefly spoke with reporters during a break in his civil case at the Montreal courthouse June 4, 2025. Allen McInnis/Montreal Gazette MONTREAL — Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon says he's been treated like a pariah in the eight years since he was publicly accused by multiple women of sexual assault. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The disgraced former comedy mogul says the allegations have ruined his life and cost him his company. Rozon is being sued by nine women for a total of nearly $14 million in damages over allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. He said outside a Montreal courtroom Wednesday that he regrets not 'writing cheques' to the women years ago instead of fighting the allegations in court. Rozon says the plaintiffs have formed a coalition against him with the aim of getting money. He says he's become a symbol of the #MeToo movement, and that the judge is under 'colossal media pressure' as she considers the case. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto & GTA Olympics Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Basketball
Montreal Gazette
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Civil trial: Gilbert Rozon says accuser sexually assaulted him
Director Dominic Champagne was an attentive spectator Tuesday at Gilbert Rozon's trial as his daughter-in-law, Jessica Lelièvre, was called upon to cross-examine the disgraced comedy mogul. Rozon is being sued by nine women claiming a total of nearly $14 million for sexual assaults they allege he committed. Champagne, who spoke to the media during a break, said 'the relationship between men and women and the justice system needs to be better than it is now. Let's hope that justice is served satisfactorily so that we can say to ourselves: this is where we are, men, women and our society, in relation to justice, and this is what we want. If there are things that need to be changed in our behaviour, both in the drafting of our laws and in our behaviour, let's talk about it and do it.' Speaking of the trial itself, he said he hoped 'that justice will be conclusive, convincing and satisfactory for everyone so that we can say to ourselves: 'But this is where we are as a society, as a culture.'' 'Surreal from every point of view' Meanwhile, in the courtroom, Rozon once again described as 'surreal from every point of view' the allegations made by Mary Sicari, who said she was the victim of sexual harassment and groping during the many years she worked at Just for Laughs. In an open-plan office 'that was a hive of activity,' as he put it, such gestures could not have gone unnoticed. The two had a 'strictly professional' relationship, he reiterated, adding that 'not only was I not attracted (to her), but I never felt that she was attracted to me.' Attorney Bruce Johnston, who was just finishing his cross-examination, reminded him that he had added, 'perhaps to her great dismay,' when he initially testified, that he wasn't attracted to her. Rozon responded by stating that 'when you're famous, literally, women run after you, for the fame, the prestige, I don't know. When you're famous, people want to offer themselves your head on a silver platter.' Johnston also returned to Annick Charrette's case, seeking to highlight contradictions in her testimony. While Charrette claims to have woken up with Rozon straddling her after she slept at the residence of a colleague of Rozon's, he has a mirror version, saying he woke up with her straddling him and making love, using him for stimulation. 'To trap me' 'Did she assault you?' Johnston asked him. 'Absolutely, but I didn't file a complaint,' Rozon asserted. Johnston tried to contradict him regarding the timing of the incident. The complainant claimed it occurred in June 1980, which Rozon said was impossible, as he was then in the midst of preparing his first festival, the Grande Virée de Lachute. Rozon made no secret of his exasperation: 'The way you're phrasing the questions is obviously to trap me,' he exclaimed. Taking over after the break, Lelièvre returned to the alleged assault by Danie Frenette, who claims that Rozon raped her on his property in Outremont in an area shielded by vegetation during a party in 1988. Rozon has always denied having acted in this way because his property at the time did not include the wooded area or bushes to which Frenette refers. 'The property is grassed, in full view of everyone. Making love in broad daylight, with my wife there? You have to imagine such a crazy scene as getting naked and making love in front of my wife,' he said. Videos and photos as evidence Rozon claims to have no photos of his property at that time, but Lelièvre did make a video filmed around 1994 at his home, a humorous interview conducted by the character Jacques Chevalier of Longueuil, which appears on a DVD titled 'Les grands moments de Juste pour rire, Volume 1.' Lelièvre played the video, which made the witness smile. But showing him a still from the video showing trees, Rozon refused to admit that they were 'mature.' He also rejected the possibility that shadows from other deciduous trees could be cast by bushes. Producing other family photos from 1998 or 1999, he had to acknowledge that there was a large fir tree there, but when the lawyer asked him if he also saw the large bush behind the people in the photo, he replied, 'What do you call a bush?' 'To me, it's like a decorative shrub, four, five, maybe six feet tall,' he finally conceded. Rozon's lawyer, Mélanie Morin, questioned the relevance of these photos since they date at least 10 years after the events described by Frenette. 'A very strange question' In the afternoon, Lelièvre ended the cross-examination of the plaintiffs by revisiting certain allegations, starting with those made by Martine Roy, the sister of his ex-wife, Danielle. He again denied the alleged sexual assault in Roy's hotel room in Quebec City in 1993. 'From memory, I exchanged a kiss with her ... unfortunately,' he added after a long pause. 'If there had been an assault, she would have gone to see her sister immediately.' Rozon shot back at the lawyer when the issue of the alleged assault by Anne-Marie Charrette arose. It allegedly took place in 1987 at the Hôtel du Parc in Montreal, where the artists participating in the Just for Laughs festival were staying. Listing his many obligations, Lelièvre asked him if his claim was that he hadn't had enough time to assault Charrette. 'A very strange question,' the witness thundered. 'I wouldn't have assaulted her even if I had had the time,' he said bluntly. Fear of Fatal Attraction Returning to Tulasne's case, he reiterated his version that the two had a 'very passionate' consensual affair, in which she claimed he entered her home and pinned her against the wall to rape her. But he also said he was afraid at that moment of a situation similar to the one in the movie Fatal Attraction, where a woman obsessively stalks a married man after an affair. 'It gave me the impression that she was looking for a man at all costs. The fact that she was trying to get her hands on someone scared me.' Rozon, who the day before had reported 200 to 250 intimate relationships with women, said in this case he had 'the impression that she was giving too much too quickly. I wasn't prepared for that. When it's too easy, sometimes you get a little scared.' He finally discussed his relationship with his ex-partner, Véronique Moreau, whose sister Sophie is the plaintiff, but who also testified to similar incidents, including being raped 90 per cent of the nights they spent together as he engaged in sex acts while she slept, waking her up, even after they had already made love. 'To hear that I make love 14-15 times a week, excuse me, I'm not a porn actor,' the witness said in his defence. Rozon's testimony is scheduled to end Wednesday afternoon with cross-examination by lawyers for the attorney general of Quebec. A long legal saga The nine claimants are Patricia Tulasne, Lyne Charlebois, Anne-Marie Charrette, Annick Charrette, Sophie Moreau, Danie Frenette, Guylaine Courcelles, Mary Sicari and Martine Roy. An initial application for authorization to launch a class action against the businessman, filed in 2017 by a group of women nicknamed Les Courageuses, was initially granted at first instance in 2018 and then dismissed on appeal in 2020. At the same time, 14 women filed complaints with the police, but the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions only accepted that of Annick Charrette. Rozon was acquitted in 2020 on the basis of reasonable doubt. Tulasne, who acted as spokesperson for Les Courageuses, was the first to file a civil action against Rozon in April 2021. The other eight women followed suit, and all the lawsuits were consolidated, culminating in the trial that began last December and was interrupted several times due to legal disputes.
Global News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon says he is a target of #MeToo movement
Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon says the nine women suing him for sexual assault are motivated by money. The cross-examination of the disgraced former comedy mogul began this morning at his civil trial in Montreal, where he's being sued for nearly $14 million. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He told the plaintiffs' lawyer the women had 'invented a truth' for financial gain and said their stories have changed over time. Rozon, who started the comedy festival in the 1980s, says the women who testified against him are part of a coalition and influenced each other. He also says he became a target of the #MeToo movement, a global campaign raising awareness of sexual violence against women. Rozon has denied the allegations against him, and has said he chose to fight the case in court to prevent the legalization of extortion.
Toronto Sun
02-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon says accusers 'invented a truth'
Rozon is being cross-examined by lawyer for nine women accusing him of sexual abuse Published Jul 02, 2025 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 1 minute read Gilbert Rozon briefly spoke with reporters during a break in his civil case at the Montreal courthouse June 4, 2025. Allen McInnis/Montreal Gazette Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon found himself having to answer very blunt questions on Wednesday as one of the lawyers representing nine women, who are seeking nearly $14 million for alleged sexual abuse, began to cross-examine him. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Lawyer Bruce Johnston wasted no time at all at the Montreal courthouse with his first question. 'The nine plaintiffs who are pursuing you in this case, if I understand your testimony, they are all lying?' Johnston asked. 'They have invented a truth,' Rozon said, adding there is an 'enormous amount' at stake financially in the trial. Johnston then reminded Rozon how last week, in a corridor of the Montreal courthouse, Rozon told reporters: 'Bringing this down to the essentials, this is for money.' 'Do you believe that?' Johnston asked. 'Principally, it has come down to money. There are other motives, like the cause. It is a social phenomenon. The Me Too movement is a sociological movement, so some of your associates talk about a cause, others talk of solidarity, revenge, rejection. That is the motivation at the base of it.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While referring to the same comments he made to reporters, Johnston asked Rozon to confirm that he said: 'If I don't defend myself, it will become a form of legalizing extortion.' 'Do you believe that?' Johnston asked again. 'There is a great danger … indeed. To defend the truth and justice. I believe in justice and that is what I submit,' Rozon replied. The civil trial began late last year and Rozon has spent several days on the witness stand in his defence. He has claimed that three of the cases involved consensual sex he had with the women. In the other six cases, he has denied that he ever had sex with the women or that he sexually abused them. Sports Money News MLB Editorial Cartoons Toronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Gazette
02-07-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon says accusers ‘invented a truth'
Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon found himself having to answer very blunt questions on Wednesday as one of the lawyers representing nine women, who are seeking nearly $14 million for alleged sexual abuse, began to cross-examine him. Lawyer Bruce Johnston wasted no time at all at the Montreal courthouse with his first question. 'The nine plaintiffs who are pursuing you in this case, if I understand your testimony, they are all lying?' Johnston asked. 'They have invented a truth,' Rozon said, adding there is an 'enormous amount' at stake financially in the trial. Johnston then reminded Rozon how last week, in a corridor of the Montreal courthouse, Rozon told reporters: 'Bringing this down to the essentials, this is for money.' 'Do you believe that?' Johnston asked. 'Principally, it has come down to money. There are other motives, like the cause. It is a social phenomenon. The Me Too movement is a sociological movement, so some of your associates talk about a cause, others talk of solidarity, revenge, rejection. That is the motivation at the base of it.' While referring to the same comments he made to reporters, Johnston asked Rozon to confirm that he said: 'If I don't defend myself, it will become a form of legalizing extortion.' 'Do you believe that?' Johnston asked again. 'There is a great danger ... indeed. To defend the truth and justice. I believe in justice and that is what I submit,' Rozon replied. The civil trial began late last year and Rozon has spent several days on the witness stand in his defence. He has claimed that three of the cases involved consensual sex he had with the women. In the other six cases, he has denied that he ever had sex with the women or that he sexually abused them. This story was originally published July 2, 2025 at 11:12 AM.
