Flavie Flament hit by online harassment after rape accusations against Patrick Bruel

On 14 June, France 3’s regional Instagram account posted a promotional video for Flavie Flament’s show “Flavie en France”. Within hours the post attracted a flood of aggressive and violent comments targeting the 51‑year‑old presenter. In response, the broadcaster disabled comments on the post, an extraordinary step to curb the cyber‑harassment.

The backlash followed Flavie Flament’s public accusations that singer‑songwriter Patrick Bruel raped her in 1991 when she was 16. Bruel, who denies the allegations, remains under investigation after being placed in police custody on 8 June. Flament, who also spoke about earlier abuse in a 2016 interview and her book “La consolation”, said the recent legal developments gave her a sense of relief.

The episode highlights the intensity of online hate directed at public figures involved in high‑profile sexual‑assault claims and the measures French media are taking to limit such abuse.