Gérald Marie

Gérald Marie is a French former model agency boss, who headed Elite Model Management, in Paris. For over three decades he was among the most powerful figures in the fashion industry. He was accused by several women of committing rape and sexual assault during the 1980s and 1990s. He denied the allegations and prosecutors closed the investigation in February 2023 due to the statute of limitations.

Sexual misconduct allegations

In February 2021, 11 women who accused Marie of sexual misconduct and rape were invited to Paris to meet investigators.[1] Karen Mulder, a supermodel in the 1990s, said in a television interview that she spent five months in a mental health facility because she was raped by him multiple times (in addition to other high-profile figures). She wasn’t believed.

In July 2021, American model Carré Otis filed a complaint against him[2] for allegedly raping her when she was 17.[3] In August 2021, Otis filed a lawsuit alleging that he repeatedly raped her at his Paris apartment.[4][5] At least 15 women have gone to French authorities with sexual assault allegations against him.[6]

His wife between 1987 and 1993, Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista, said she knew nothing about the reported alleged rapes and sexual assaults that would have occurred during her relationship with him. However, she stated that she believes the women who have come forward are telling the truth, and praised their courage.[7] Discussing their relationship in the 2023 documentary The Super Models, Evangelista said: 'I learned that maybe I was in the wrong relationship. It's easier said than done to leave an abusive relationship. I understand that concept, because I lived it. If it was just a matter of saying, 'I want a divorce, see ya'... it doesn't work that way. He knew not to touch my face, not to touch the money-maker, you know?'[8]

On 13 February 2023, French prosecutors closed criminal investigation into the rape and sexual assaults, allegedly committed by Marie during the 1980s and 1990s, on the grounds that under France's statute of limitations, the alleged offences had taken place too long ago to be prosecuted.[9][10]

The decision to drop the criminal investigations did not prevent alleged victims from pursuing claims against Marie through the civil courts. Former BBC journalist, Lisa Brinkworth, is among alleged victims who said they would progress civil cases against Gérald Marie. Brinkworth claims she was sexually assaulted in a Milan nightclub by Marie in 1998, while she was working undercover on a documentary investigation into sex crimes against fashion models.[10][11] She also said she would be appealing the French criminal prosecutor's decision.

He was the president of Elite Model Management European division and was one of the most powerful men in fashion.[12]

Personal life

He was married to Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista[13] between 1987 and 1993.[14]

See also

References
  1. "French police to interview 11 women about Gerald Marie abuse allegations". the Guardian. February 12, 2021.
  2. "Supermodel Carre Otis calls out former modelling agency boss over alleged rape". torontosun.
  3. "La legendaria supermodelo Carré Otis demanda a Gérald Marie por violarla a los 17 años". El País. August 15, 2021.
  4. "Former model Carré Sutton sues Gérald Marie over rape accusation". the Guardian. August 13, 2021.
  5. Bellafante, Ginia (August 13, 2021). "Why an Ex-Supermodel Who Says She Was Raped at 17 Is Suing Now" – via NYTimes.com.
  6. "Models allege they were sexually assaulted by French fashion titan Gerald Marie: "He tried to rape me"". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  7. Osborne, Lucy (October 16, 2020). "Linda Evangelista praises women accusing her ex-husband of rape". The Guardian.
  8. "Linda Evangelista claims ex-husband abused her". The Telegraph. September 19, 2023.
  9. "French prosecutors close rape investigation into model agency boss". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 2023-02-15. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  10. Sleator, Laurence. "Time runs out in rape case against former model agency boss Gérald Marie". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  11. "Ex-BBC employee reports alleged fashion sex assault". BBC News. 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  12. "'He wanted to control me completely': the models who accuse Gérald Marie of sexual assault". the Guardian. October 17, 2020.
  13. Paton, Elizabeth (September 7, 2021). "Supermodels Speak Out Against Sexual Harassment" – via NYTimes.com.
  14. "'What he was doing was in plain sight': more ex-models accuse Gérald Marie of sexual assault". the Guardian. November 20, 2020.
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