Invited to comment on the indictment of Ary Abittan, accused of rape, Bernard Montiel had taken up the defense of the actor. “I can tell you that obviously I do not believe in this story, I defend him. I know how he is and what relationship he has with women”, said the columnist of Do not touch My TV by tackling the version of the alleged victim. “He’s always extremely correct, he’s an extremely correct guy. He’s an extremely honest guy. Really I don’t believe this story. One night’s meeting, rape the next day, I don’t believe it.”
Words that made a large number of people jump, especially Izïa Higelin. The actress and singer then threw archival footage, on which her mother is interviewed by the host, in the show The front page is yours, on TF1. “She is very pretty, very very pretty. Come on my little one, you are very pretty, it’s also practical for singing too”, could we hear him say to his guest who reveals to be from Tunis. “Tell me, in your house, women in general are more veiled than that, aren’t they?”, he asked before adding: “I also wanted to point out that you have a really nice cleavage.” In caption, she added: “Hello Bernard Montiel !!! When I see you say (…) that Ary Abbitan is really a great guy, I always think of that great interview you did with my mom at the end of 80. Love you mom”, with the hashtag #cultureduviol.
Bernard Montiel answers him
In the columns of Parisian, the one close to Laura Smet replied to the star by saying: “Izïa Higelin has the wrong target. I have a lot of respect for her. As for her mother and that shitty interview from thirty years ago … It may not be an excuse but it was he Thirty years ago! I was indeed disturbed by her beauty but above all by her fragility, the nervousness she felt. I stood up respectfully to welcome her. I wanted to put her at ease, hence this compliment on her beauty”, he had first said. “The cleavage is bullshit. But if today you pay a woman a compliment and get set on fire like this, I pity all the men!” before repeating “that this interview sucked!”
After the apologies, Bernard Montiel wanted to be more offensive about the hashtag “rape culture”. “What she is doing is intimidation. It is shameful of her. It is incitement to hatred and harassment, condemnable by law. Let me be accused of apologizing of the culture of rape, it hurts me (…) My words were truncated and badly interpreted. I did not try to hurt anyone and even less to encourage a certain culture of rape “, he said, revealing to collaborate “with the Women’s Foundation, which fights against violence against women”.
See also: Did Laeticia Hallyday block Bernard Montiel? On Instagram, one detail is surprising!
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