AAP Entertainment

French singer charged with rape and sexual assault

By Leo Marchandon and Layli Foroudi

Jun 11, 2026

French singer Patrick Bruel — Patrick Bruel, one of France's top-selling ‌recording artists, has publicly denied any wrongdoing. -AP

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel has been placed under formal investigation for ‌rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and harassment from 2008 ‌to 2019, prosecutors say.

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Being placed under formal investigation means there are reasonable grounds to believe a crime has been ‌committed and ‌is a ⁠step towards going to trial.

Bruel, who had faced allegations from several women from incidents that spanned 1997 to 2012, has publicly denied any wrongdoing.

He is one of France's top-selling ‌recording artists, and is the latest high-profile French ⁠figure to face investigators following the #MeToo movement after film star Gerard Depardieu was ‌handed a suspended 18-month prison sentence in 2025 for sexually assaulting two women on a film set.

The 67-year-old was presented to four investigating judges on Wednesday for formal indictment.

Investigating ‌judges would also determine whether incidents involving 13 additional alleged victims between September 1992 and September 2008 were covered under statutes of limitation, French media reported.

Bruel was released from custody under judicial supervision.

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