(Biarritz) An investigation opened in France following accusations of rape brought against the writer Frédéric Beigbeder has been closed without further action due to “the absence of serious or concordant evidence”, the public prosecutor announced on Friday.
Frédéric Beigbeder, television and radio columnist, literary critic, editor, comic book and film scriptwriter, actor and even director, had triumphed with 99 francs (2000) where he revealed the turpitudes – cocaine, cynicism, money – of the advertising world.
In the midst of the MeToo wave, the former editorial director of the magazine Him was criticized for his inaction in the PPDA affair, as well as his support for Roman Polanski, in the face of what he described as a “pack of hyenas running wild” at the 2020 Césars. Not to mention his belated condemnation of the actions of his “friend” the writer Gabriel Matzneff, accused of raping minors.
On July 23, 2023, a woman filed a complaint at the Pau police station in southwestern France against the novelist.
She accused him of a rape committed according to her on the night of July 18 to 19 in a hotel room. Placed in police custody on December 12, the writer had contested the facts.
In the preliminary investigation opened by the prosecution, “all witnesses who could shed any light on the facts” were heard, the prosecution said.
The offence appearing to be “insufficiently characterised”, the procedure was closed without further action.
“I had no doubt about the outcome of this complaint and bitterly regret the considerable impact of this procedure on my client’s professional life,” the writer’s lawyer, M.e Marie Dosé.
“After a year of investigation and violation of Mr. Beigbeder’s right to respect for the presumption of innocence, it was time for this page to turn,” added his counsel.