French investigation uncovers 'endemic and persistent' sexual violence in the entertainment industry

On April 9, the French National Assembly released a damning report after a six-month long inquiry into violence within the country’s entertainment industry. After weeks of intense hearings, the parliamentary commission of inquiry revealed that moral, sexist, racial and sexual violence is “systemic, endemic and persistent" across the film, audio-visual, fashion and advertising sectors.

The commission of inquiry was led by Green MP Sandrine Rousseau and was launched in October 2024 in the wake of sexual assault allegations by French actress Judith Godrèche. Godrèche became a leading voice in France’s #MeToo movement last year after accusing two established directors, Jacques Doillon and Benoît Jacquot, of raping her when she was a teenager.

Godrèche publicly denounced France's film industry as “incestuous” and a "feudal, aristocratic system" where "oppression of the weakest" reigns during testimony to the delegation for children's rights in March 2024. Godrèche was one among many of France’s biggest stars to testify during the parliamentary inquiry, including Juliette Binoche, Jean Dujardin, and Pierre Niney.

The report is based on over 118 hours of discussions with 350 professionals, including actors, casting directors, stage managers and other industry workers. Snippets of some of the explicit testimonies are included in the report to paint a picture of the pervasive and persistent violence and abuse of power in the industry.

The abuse detailed in the report describes a César award-winning screenwriter who offered advice to a student in exchange for fellatio, as well as a show lead who pinned a trainee against a wall and a director who asked an actress to audition using her vibrator.

The report makes clear that children are particularly victimised and vulnerable in the current industry climate, citing a “total lack of concern for the protection of minors”. In fact, the cultural and entertainment industry is accused of creating a “continuum of violence” that begins from the early years of training. The report also highlights latent racism in the entertainment industry and indicates that women of colour often suffer from “double punishment”.

The final report includes a list of 86 recommendations to overhaul the French entertainment industry aiming to better protect children and women. One of the key recommendations aims to regulate casting sessions, advising that they only take place in professional settings, during work hours and “ in the presence of at least two people”.

Another key recommendation includes the requirement of intimacy coordinators for sex scenes. The need for intimacy coordinators has been an ongoing debate in Hollywood for years, but recent films like the Oscar-winning Anora have sparked fresh conversation in recent months.

In an Actors on Actors session, Anora-star Mikey Madison revealed she made the decision not to have an intimacy coordinator onset, saying the team decided “it would be best just to keep it small with us and then Sean Baker the director, and Sammy Quan, his producing partner and wife". She went on to say: "I think there’s a lot of humour involved in [the sex shots] and it was a very positive experience for me."

The French commission inquiry also says it should be mandatory to launch an investigation in response to a sexual violence and harassment complaint. This includes carrying out investigative acts like hearing the alleged perpetrator and seizing their computers and telephones.

Taking to Instagram, Godrèche remarked on the historic investigation and calls for the industry to take the report seriously. She writes: "The reality is here. It's staring us straight in the face."

She continues: "It's a strange anniversary. A year of struggle. Seize this report so that it doesn't remain a dead letter...Distribute it. Shout it. Sing it. The collective thwarts solitude. Don't let this report become a doorstop in the Assembly. We're counting on you."

The release of the report to the French media follows the previous week’s sexual assault trial of the well-known French film star Gerard Depardieu. Depardieu is accused of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021, allegations he has denied. A verdict is due on May 13.