Targeted for a few days by three allegations of sexual misconduct on social networks, comedian Fred Dubé assures that he has never sexually assaulted anyone. In an interview with the Journal, he wanted to “restore the facts” and “nuance certain things”.
• Read also: Allegations against Fred Dubé: “He’s the most detestable being in showbiz, but…”, says Nantel
• Read also: Fred Dubé and the pack
“There are facts that have not been said. I know there is a lot of sensitivity, emotion and pain in there. I respect that. […] The bulk of the case is that it is said that there were two charges of sexual assault against me. And that’s the main thing I deny. »
It was last weekend that a first woman, Mélodie Drouin, denounced the comedian on social networks. She accused him of sexual assault and splashed Dubé’s former spouse, author and columnist Catherine Éthier.
She would respond to these accusations by denouncing Fred Dubé herself, claiming that he had subjected her to psychological, verbal and sexual violence.
A third woman, Anne Morais, then testified that she had dated the comedian when she was only 21 and he was 35. A certain unequal power relationship had developed between the two, but she clarified that it was not about aggression.
Complaints to the police
Fred Dubé shared screenshots of his conversations with Mélodie Drouin with the Journal, which date from 2017 and 2018.
“There are a lot of messages that support what I’m saying, that I didn’t assault her and that there was approved consent three times during the evening. […] Mélodie started in 2018 to do harassment and all that. »
Fred Dubé mentions having spoken to an investigator “a dozen times” about this situation. He filed two complaints with the police. However, the investigation was unsuccessful, he said, because “I had to provide defamation testimony and, in the context, I was unable to find any. »
“I was unfaithful to Catherine”
Fred Dubé finds it unfortunate that Catherine Éthier was denounced by Mélodie in this story. In her testimony, Mélodie Drouin affirmed that the author was aware of the actions of her spouse at the time and that she had also acted to silence her. “She didn’t have to go through this, she didn’t have to be included in this story. »
What does he say about Ms. Éthier’s assault charges against him? “I have never sexually assaulted anyone,” he repeats. It had never been named in our relationship. I learned it by reading it. I have never done it and I can never do it. […] It’s true that I was unfaithful to Catherine. It is true that there was verbal abuse. I am responsible for it. I also experienced verbal abuse from him. There were some on both sides. »
Asked whether he was considering legal action for defamation, Fred Dubé simply replied: “I won’t talk about that. »