Patrick Bruel detained in Paris police station amid multiple sexual assault allegations, cancels tour

Patrick Bruel, the 67‑year‑old French singer‑songwriter, was taken into police custody at the Paris criminal police headquarters on 8 June 2026. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said 13 women have filed accusations ranging from sexual assault and attempted rape to rape and harassment, covering incidents in 1997, 2000, 2001 and later. The allegations also include a 2010 alleged assault in Brussels and a 1991 claim by TV presenter Flavie Flament. Custody was initially set for up to 48 hours and later extended by another 24 hours. Under public pressure Bruel cancelled most of his planned summer tour, which was to begin in mid‑June in Paris. Feminist demonstrators warned, “Es gibt Frauen, die monatelang, ja jahrelang versucht haben, sich Gehör zu verschaffen; und erst die mediale Aufmerksamkeit … hat dazu geführt, dass sich etwas getan hat.” Investigative journalist Marine Turchi added, “Selbst heute, im Jahr 2026, muss man mächtig, bekannt und weiß sein, um in diesen Fragen Gehör zu finden.”