Michèle Marchand withdraws appeal in Karine Le Marchand blackmail case

Michèle Marchand, a prominent figure in celebrity press, has withdrawn her appeal in the blackmail case involving French television host Karine Le Marchand. During her appearance in court on Monday, the 79-year-old Marchand whispered “pardon” toward Le Marchand before exiting the courtroom.

The withdrawal makes Marchand’s initial conviction final. On July 1, 2025, she was sentenced in the first instance to 18 months of suspended prison time and a 25,000 euro fine. The case stems from an incident five years ago when Le Marchand’s minor daughter was taken into custody for cannabis possession.

During the incident, a photographer captured images of the minor. Marchand had previously claimed to Le Marchand that she had blocked the publication of the photos by paying the photographer 3,000 euros, though she later admitted in court that she had lied and was acting as an intermediary for paparazzo Sébastien Valiela. Le Marchand, a producer for M6, expressed shock at the timing of the withdrawal, describing the move as a sudden gesture during the trial proceedings.