French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, one of the country's most recognizable entertainment figures, has been placed under formal judicial investigation over allegations including rape, attempted rape, and sexual abuse. On Wednesday, after spending two days in police custody in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, the 67-year-old appeared before a panel of judges who approved prosecutors' request to place him under investigation for several alleged sexual offences. Bruel has consistently denied all accusations against him. However, he has been released under judicial supervision, with restri

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, one of the country's most recognizable entertainment figures, has been placed under formal judicial investigation over allegations including rape, attempted rape, and sexual abuse. On Wednesday, after spending two days in police custody in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, the 67-year-old appeared before a panel of judges who approved prosecutors' request to place him under investigation for several alleged sexual offences. Bruel has consistently denied all accusations against him. However, he has been released under judicial supervision, with restrictions that include remaining in France and avoiding contact with the alleged victims. Of the nine allegations presented by prosecutors, judges decided to proceed with investigations into four counts involving rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Pressure on Bruel has intensified after several previously closed cases were reopened by prosecutors. Among them is an allegation of rape relating to events said to have occurred in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in 2015. The case has become one of several being re-examined as investigators review the broader allegations against the singer. Some of the accusations date back to incidents that allegedly occurred between 2008 and 2019. Under French law, rape is defined as any act of sexual penetration without consent. The case comes at a time when France is paying increased attention to the handling of sexual violence cases, particularly following the murder of an 11-year-old girl, Lyhanna, which sparked national debate about failures in the justice system. Bruel, who rose to fame in the 1980s with hit songs such as Marre de cette nana-là, is among the most prominent French public figures to face allegations of sexual misconduct, alongside actor Gérard Depardieu. In May 2026, investigative outlet Mediapart reported that around 30 women had shared similar accounts alleging harassment or assault by Bruel. The accusations gained further attention when well-known French television and radio presenter Flavie Flament alleged that Bruel drugged and raped her in Paris in 1991 when she was 16 years old. However, that allegation is not among the charges currently being examined by judges because it falls outside the legal time limits for prosecution. In a statement posted on Instagram, Bruel denied ever forcing himself on a woman or using his celebrity status to obtain non-consensual sexual relations. "I have never forced myself on a woman, nor drugged, manipulated, or attempted to dominate anyone," he wrote. The investigation remains ongoing, and if sufficient evidence is found, the case could proceed to trial. For now, Patrick Bruel remains presumed innocent under French law until proven guilty in court.

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