The NRJ Music Awards stage is set for an emotional night featuring Slimane, a performer recently celebrated for his Eurovision success. Nominated for two awards, Slimane faces serious allegations after a technician accused him of sexual harassment during a post-concert celebration. The complaint details explicit advances and unwelcome messages from the artist. As Slimane’s popularity grows, industry whispers suggest he may have a history of similar behavior, prompting concerns about the impact on both the artist and the complainant.
This Friday, the NRJ Music Awards stage is set to be filled with powerful emotions, featuring Slimane as one of the most anticipated performers. Known for captivating audiences with his Eurovision hit Mon amour, Slimane is nominated for two prestigious awards: Best Male Artist and Song of the Year. However, the night’s celebration of his achievements has been overshadowed by serious allegations against him.
A complaint of sexual harassment has been filed by a technician who was part of Slimane’s world tour. The identity of the complainant is kept confidential, but the allegations detail incidents occurring post-concert, during which the technician claims he faced inappropriate behavior from Slimane. The situation is further complicated by other reports suggesting similar conduct on past tours, which could significantly impact Slimane’s rising popularity.
Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct
According to the complaint, an incident allegedly occurred on the night of December 17, 2023, at the Zénith in Saint-Étienne. Following the dismantling of the stage, the technician attended a small gathering celebrating the end of the first leg of the “Cupidon Tour.” It is claimed that Slimane allegedly ‘ blocked him against a wall‘, making explicit advances and ‘ imposing a non-consensual embrace ‘. When the technician declined, emphasizing his heterosexual orientation and marital status, Slimane reportedly persisted, inquiring if other team members might be interested.
The technician’s lawyer, Me Anne-Sophie Charrieras, indicated that the situation escalated. ‘ My client hurriedly left the dressing room and returned to the tour bus, believing the incident was over ‘, she stated. However, in the hours that followed, he allegedly received ‘ a barrage of sexual, even pornographic, messages and videos‘ from Slimane, prompting the technician to report the incident to his employer the next day.
Industry Repercussions
In response to the complaint, the technician’s employer swiftly removed two employees from the tour. The production company, Play Two, which is behind the Cupidon Tour, acknowledged the situation and emphasized its commitment to ethical standards in its partnership with Slimane. Consequently, they organized a new technical team to ensure that concerts scheduled for February could proceed as planned. As of now, there has been no official comment from Slimane’s team regarding the potential fallout from these allegations.
Within the entertainment industry, there are growing concerns about previous allegations of inappropriate behavior by Slimane during past collaborations, particularly during his duet tour with Vitaa. Additionally, whispers suggest that the complainant may have been ‘ bought‘ to remain silent. ‘ It’s vital to recognize his position. Since the incident, he has been anxious about the implications for his family and career‘, his lawyer explained. The technician is reluctant to directly confront a public figure of Slimane’s stature but insists on accountability. ‘ My client doesn’t wish to tarnish the artist’s reputation, but he cannot bear being labeled as dishonest or corrupt. He simply wants Slimane to take responsibility for his actions and prevent this from recurring‘, she stressed.