2023-06-13 17:59:04
An annoyed defendant: Jean-Marc Morandini appeared before the Paris Criminal Court on Tuesday as the victim of a journalistic cabal, on the first day of his trial for the sexual harassment of a young actor and for concealed work.
“Everything was fine between (me and the young actors of the web-series + Les Faucons + that he produced) until the publication, in July 2016, of an article from Inrocks”, defends the host at the bar 57-year-old television personality.
“From this article, there were problems with all the actors. The journalist got on their heads”, continues Mr. Morandini, once more in court six months following a (non-final) conviction for corruption of minors out of three teenagers between 2009 and 2016.
The article which launched the judicial machine took up the testimony of two comedians from the web-series accusing the producer of having taken advantage of the castings to ask them to show themselves naked or to engage in masturbation scenes.
“It was to see their limits,” explains the host in a black jacket over an open-necked white shirt.
The investigation revealed that a pseudo “casting director”, Catherine Leclerc – in reality Jean-Marc Morandini under a pseudonym – had sent emails to the actors insistently asking them for videos of them naked, shaved pubis and scenes of masturbation sometimes with ejaculations.
“Why ask young actors to shave?” asks the court. “To appear younger? To look like minors when they were adults?”.
“No, it was for aesthetics”, replies the defendant, who adds “that question makes no sense”.
And why invent the character of “Catherine Leclerc” who signed “mom” the emails addressed to the youngest of the actors, Gabriel P., present at the hearing, the only complainant for whom the charge of sexual harassment was retained once morest the warned.
“I created the virtual character of Catherine so as not to appear on the casting site. Otherwise the candidates would have applied because of my name”, sweeps the host.
According to the investigators, this “totally fictional character” constituted a “maternal and reassuring figure inspiring confidence”, in particular in the youngest of the complainants, an actor without an agent, without training and without experience in the film industry, encouraging him “to always push back his limits in the act of a sexual nature, under the alleged pretext of working on one’s posture as an actor”.
In two of her emails “Catherine” had asked the young man if he was ready to perform oral sex on Jean-Marc Morandini “who is not just anyone”.
“Attempted fraud”
“+Mom+, it was a wink,” says the host. As for the evocation of fellatio, “said like that in court it obviously takes on proportions”, he defends himself. “It was a game of seduction,” he says, rejecting any “attraction” towards Gabriel, whom he nevertheless concedes having found “charming”.
An assessor persists: “I still have trouble understanding how performing oral sex can improve acting”.
“We are focusing on that but we talked regarding a lot of other things,” replied the defendant.
On the facts of concealed work, the host maintains that it was a question of “shooting tests”. “The actors knew they wouldn’t be paid. They were volunteers.”
The first day of hearing ends when a dramatic change occurs.
Jean-Marc Morandini, watched over by his lawyers, announces that a lawyer has asked him for 60,000 euros for Gabriel to withdraw his complaint.
Stupor of the court and of the young plaintiff foreign to this request. “Who is this lawyer?” asks the court. The facilitator is silent.
– “Is he in this room?”
– “Yes!”, replies the host, pointing to a lawyer for the civil parties, Arash Derambarsh (who does not defend Gabriel).
The lawyer protests and denies any request for a transaction. “60,000 euros, November 21 (2022), 6:30 p.m. in your offices”, triumphs the defendant.
Mr. Morandini’s lawyer evokes “an attempted scam”. His client smiles.
The hearing is due to resume on Wednesday.
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