The $30 million industry's dark underbelly

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel has been arrested and is under investigation for historical rape and sex crimes allegations.. Over 30 women have come forward claiming he sexually assaulted them, with three accusing him of rape between 1997 and 2001.

Bruel denies any wrongdoing and has cancelled his international tour. French singer and actor Patrick Bruel has been arrested after 13 women accused him of historical rapes and sex crimes. Bruel was taken into police custody after more than 30 women came forward and claimed he had sexually assaulted them.

The 67-year-old is now under investigation for allegations of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment against 13 of those women, the Nanterre prosecutor's office said.

Flavie Flament's courageous testimony

Television presenter and journalist Flavie Flament took to French television and publicly accused Bruel of drugging and raping her in Paris when she was 16 in 1991.

She claimed that Bruel offered her a cup of tea before she 'blacked out'. The presenter claimed that she then 'woke up hallucinating' while he was allegedly 'putting her pants back on and buttoning them up' before dropping her off at a hotel near Saint-Lazare train station.

Bruel's lawyer Christophe Ingrain said last month that the pop star had a brief 'totally consensual' encounter with Ms Flament in the early nineties, but denied he drugged or raped her, alleging her story was made up.

Justice system's heavy burden

Prosecutors said they would not be questioning the singer about Ms Flament's claims. Last month, the prosecutor's office said that the investigation would include a case that was initially dropped in 2020 due to a lack of evidence and two separate allegations in Brittany, in the town of Saint-Malo, and in Belgium.

French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon previously said female victims should be encouraged to speak out 'even decades later', adding 'it is then up to the justice system to establish the truth of the facts'.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The investigation will also probe 'acts of rape or attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment' reported by other women as well. Bruel's legal team said he would 'answer all of the investigators' questions and provide all the necessary evidence to demonstrate his innocence', following the artist's arrest this morning.

He has since cancelled most of his international tour this summer,which was due to start this month across France, Switzerland, Belgium and Canada.

30 years of silence broken

Over 30 women have come forward claiming he sexually assaulted them, with three accusing him of rape between 1997 and 2001. The allegations against Bruel started to emerge last month when television presenter and journalist Flavie Flament publicly accused the singer of rape on French television last month.

She claimed he drugged and raped her in a flat in Paris when she was 16 and he was 32 in 1991. Flament wrote on social media: 'I have another date with my past. And with a man who plundered my adolescence.'

I am filing a complaint against Patrick Bruel for rape. So that the truth comes out, so that justice is served.'

She alleged that Bruel offered her a cup of tea before she 'blacked out'. The presenter claimed that she then 'woke up hallucinating' while he was allegedly 'putting her pants back on and buttoning them up' before dropping her off at a hotel near Saint-Lazare train station.

Bruel's lawyer Christophe Ingrain said last month that the pop star had a brief 'totally consensual' encounter with Ms Flament in the early nineties, but denied he drugged or raped her, alleging her story was made up.