Since February 2021, the one who was the most watched journalist in France has been at the center of a sex scandal. To date, twenty-six women have testified against him; sixteen filed complaints, including seven for rape – the latest on April 28, 2022. the former star of the TF1 20 hour newspaper.
During his hearing by the judicial police, PPDA refuted all the charges against him, but he did not wish to speak in the report of “Complément d’Enquête”. At the end of their investigation, the journalists only received a letter from his lawyers which reiterated his denials.
PPDA has decided to file a civil action
Because this time, the ex-presenter’s counter-offensive will not be played out in the media, as at the time of the first rape complaint filed against him in early 2021. At the time, he spoke at our colleagues from “Daily” (TMC) to claim his innocence. After a first complaint closed without follow-up, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor decided to constitute a civil party. The former presenter attacks sixteen women for slanderous denunciation, a legal action confirmed by his lawyer. On more than forty pages of extreme virulence, he accuses them of lying.
“In reality, impunity is not to be feared on the side of Mr. Poivre d’Arvor but on that of the defendants, dangerous slanderers who, while howling with the wolves, think they are protected by the pack”.
Excerpt from the complaint of Patrick Poivre d’Arvorquoted in “Additional investigation”
His line of defense is as follows: according to him, these women would simply take revenge for having been turned away. The text underlines “the attraction of certain women (and men) for power, fame, money, uniform“, implying that they would have sought a relationship with the presenter for these reasons.
Handwritten letters that would support his version of the facts
In his defence, PPDA also produces handwritten letters, in a friendly or even affectionate tone, that four of his accusers allegedly sent to him. Letters written shortly after the rapes or assaults they denounce, according to the former star of 20 Hours. One of the complainants writes: “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. You confused me, it’s different.“Another concludes her letter with these words:”I already want to see you again, and I’m already afraid of this desire.“
Asked about the content of these letters, the women who accuse him “deplore the feigned ignorance of the process of domination and sexual violence in an attempt to make people believe that there are letters that could be incompatible”. Their lawyer adds that his clients maintain their accusations. They see the presenter’s complaint as an opportunity “to confront him in front of judges, which the prescription forbade them”, according to Me Laure Heinich.
Extract from “PPDA, the fall of an untouchable”, a document published in “Complément d’Enquête” on April 28, 2022.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.