In a shift for the festival, Cannes bars actor from premiere over sexual assault allegations

CANNES – The Cannes Film Festival barred French histrion Théo Navarro-Mussy from attending the premiere of the contention introduction “Case 137," successful what's believed to beryllium a archetypal for the festival successful the #MeToo era.

Festival manager Thierry Fremaux confirmed to the French mag Télérama that Navarro-Mussy would not beryllium allowed to be the reddish carpet premiere of “Case 137" ("Dossier 137" successful France) connected Thursday nighttime astatine Cannes. He has a supporting relation successful the film.

Télérama reported that Navarro-Mussy was accused of rape by 3 erstwhile partners successful 2018, 2019 and 2020. The lawsuit was dropped past period owed to deficiency of evidence, but Télérama reported the 3 pistillate program to appeal.

“It is due to the fact that determination is an appeal, and truthful the probe is inactive active, that the lawsuit is not suspended," Fremaux told the French magazine. “When a ineligible determination becomes final, the concern changes.”

Representatives for Navarro-Mussy didn't instantly respond to requests for comment. Representatives for the Cannes Film Festival referred inquires to Fremaux's comments to Télérama.

Navarro-Mussy's attorney, Marion Pouzet-Gagliardi told Télérama: “I person received nary accusation indicating that immoderate proceedings are ongoing. This projected ailment with civilian enactment presumption has, to my knowledge, not been legally filed."

The determination marks a displacement for the Cannes Film Festival, which has sometimes been criticized for welcoming men accused of intersexual misconduct. But immoderate accidental present that the festival is evolving arsenic the #MeToo question has made belated inroads into the French movie industry.

This year's Cannes opened hours aft French histrion Gerard Depardieu was recovered blameworthy of intersexual harassment and handed a 18-month suspended situation sentence. When asked astir the Depardieu verdict, Juliette Binoche, Cannes assemblage president, said that “the festival is pursuing this inclination successful societal and governmental life.”

“The festival is successful measurement with what’s happening today,” Binoche said. “#MeToo took immoderate clip to summation strength. We reacted precise powerfully recently."

On Thursday, the French accumulation institution of “Case 137,” Haut et Court, said it past week received a informing astir the situation.

“Even though the allegations mostly predate the accumulation of the film, we agreed with the festival absorption that the idiosyncratic successful question volition not travel the movie to Cannes, retired of respect for the plaintiffs and their close to beryllium heard, portion besides respecting the presumption of innocence of the accused,” the institution said successful a statement.

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