For the past few months, Patrick Bruel has been at the center of a wide controversy following accusations made against him by several women. According to various media outlets, numerous testimonies describe sexist and sexual violence, while several complaints are currently being examined in France and Belgium. One of the most publicized accusations is from Flavie Flament. In a video interview published by Mediapart on May 18, 2026, the host claims to have been “raped” and “drugged” by the singer in 1991 when she was 16 years old. She says she felt “an absence, a total blackout” after drinking a tea at Patrick Bruel’s home before regaining consciousness in bed. “At 16, it’s normally the age of first experiences. It’s not the age of a rape in a Parisian apartment,” she declares in the interview.
Concerts by Patrick Bruel canceled
The case is also starting to have concrete consequences on the singer’s tour. On May 19, 2026, La Presse announced the suspension of the concerts Patrick Bruel was supposed to perform on December 3, 4, and 5 at the Capitole Theatre in Quebec. In a statement, promoter Gestev explained their decision: “Given the current context and the impossibility of promoting them, Gestev has decided to indefinitely suspend Patrick Bruel’s shows scheduled for December at the Capitole Theatre.” Ticket holders will be refunded. For now, the concerts scheduled in Montreal are still taking place. The Olympia website of Montreal still shows the planned performances on November 27, 28, and 29, with several tickets still available for purchase. In France, no date has been canceled yet despite a petition supported by several feminist associations and signed by over 20,000 people.
The singer denies the allegations
Facing the accusations, Patrick Bruel and his lawyers continue to firmly deny the allegations. Invited on BFMTV on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Me Christophe Ingrain, the singer’s lawyer, asserted that the relationship between Patrick Bruel and Flavie Flament was “perfectly consensual” and took place over several years as “episodic” encounters. “Patrick Bruel is very clear: he never forced or drugged Flavie Flament. There was no rape,” insisted the lawyer. This version is completely rejected by the host, who claims in Mediapart to have “absolutely never had a relationship” with the artist. Flavie Flament also expressed being “appalled” by the statements made by the singer’s lawyers. “It’s insulting to me and also insulting to all women,” she reacted. Patrick Bruel, who benefits from the presumption of innocence, released a statement on Instagram on May 17, stating that he had never “forced a woman,” “drugged, manipulated, or tried to subjugate anyone.”
