He had remained silent so far but could not hold out any longer in the face of questions from journalists. Indeed, since the announced “retirement” of Adèle Haenel, Thierry Frémeaux, general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, had not yet reacted. It is now done, this Monday, May 15, during the pre-opening press conference of the event.
“In a context of historical social movement, we are waiting to see if the pundits of the cinema count […] on the police so that everything goes as usual on the red carpets of the Cannes Film Festival”wrote Adèle Haenel in particular in a letter addressed to Telerema on May 9, 2023, in which she also denounces “the general complacency of the profession vis-à-vis sexual aggressors”.
In April 2023, the actress known for her role in “Portrait of the Girl on Fire” by Céline Sciamma, also dropped to the Italian media Il Manifesto : “Those in power continue to oppress us. We always reward rapists and they want me to shut up? That will never happen”.
Adèle Haenel, violently tackled by the general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival
Thierry Frémeaux therefore took advantage of the pre-opening press conference to give his opinion on the last outing of Adèle Haenel, and say what he thought of the words of this one. “Coming out of what I consider to be ‘radical’ comments, she may have felt compelled to make these types of comments, but her accusations are false and misguided”he confided at first before defending himself: “If you really thought our festival celebrated rapists, there wouldn’t be so many of you here, listening to me and being accredited”.
During the answers given to the journalist, the general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival even paid the head of Adèle Haenel. By pointing out the fact that she did not hold the same speech when, at the time, she walked the red carpet of the Croisette. “Adèle Haenel did not think in these terms when she came to Cannes as an actress, at least I hope she did not suffer from dissonance there”he quipped before mentioning the Johnny Depp case which has been dividing for several days.
Johnny Depp, “defended” by Thierry Frémeaux
Faced with the controversy, Thierry Frémeaux defended himself from the choice to open the 76th Cannes Film Festival with “Jeanne du Barry” by Maïwenn, in which the ex-companion of Amber Heard plays the leading role. It is precisely because of his trial with his ex-girlfriend, who sued him for domestic violence, that some people are protesting the arrival of the American actor in Cannes.
“I do not know the image of Johnny Depp in the United States. I have only one conduct in life: the freedom to think, to speak, to act within the framework of the law”, said first defended the general delegate before concluding: “I don’t know what it’s about, I’m interested in Depp as an actor”.
RF