Gisèle Pélicot’s testimony during a high-profile trial has brought attention to the issues of sexual violence and coercion. She courageously confronted 51 men accused of raping her while incapacitated by medication administered without her consent. Pélicot criticized the prevailing patriarchal culture that trivializes rape and emphasized the need for accountability, making it clear she holds no forgiveness for her ex-husband. The courtroom drama intensified as her ex-husband attempted to justify his actions, sparking a confrontation with their daughter.
The Powerful Testimony of Gisèle Pélicot
In a moment that has captured global attention, Gisèle Pélicot took the stand once more during a trial that has positioned her as a prominent figure in the battle against sexual violence and chemical coercion. On November 19, 2024, she addressed the departmental criminal court of Vaucluse, where 51 men are facing charges for raping her while she was incapacitated due to medication administered by her husband, Dominique Pélicot, without her consent. “This trial exemplifies cowardice. It is imperative that our macho and patriarchal culture, which trivializes rape, evolves. We must alter our understanding of what rape truly is,” the septuagenarian declared in the Avignon court, which has been drawing the attention of numerous journalists and concerned citizens daily. “I have witnessed individuals at the bar who deny the reality of the rape,” she emphasized, pointing out that most of the accused claim they lacked the “intention” to harm her.
A Call for Accountability
“We will remember Mrs. Pélicot, much less Mr. Pélicot,” she asserted. “I struggle with this notion of banality. To these men, I ask: at which point did Mrs. Pélicot grant you consent? When did you realize what you were doing to her lifeless body? Why did you not report this to the authorities?” she continued, as reported by various media outlets. She also sought to clarify a misconception perpetuated by some defense attorneys who allege she remains under the influence of Dominique Pélicot, stating unequivocally that she does not absolve her ex-husband of any wrongdoing. “People assume that I have forgiven Mr. Pélicot. I have not forgiven anything,” the courageous complainant noted. Although she expresses regret for being recognized worldwide without her consent, she chooses to retain her married name: “We will remember Mrs. Pélicot, much less Mr. Pélicot. I wish for my grandchildren to take pride in this name. They will remember their grandmother, Gisèle Pélicot.”
As the proceedings unfolded, Dominique Pélicot was allowed to speak one final time before the hearings commenced the following day. Addressing his three children, whom he has not seen since his incarceration four years ago, he expressed his awareness of the devastation he has caused and conveyed his “bitter regret” while insisting that he “never harmed [his] children or [his] grandchildren.” This assertion ignited a heated exchange with his daughter Caroline Darian, who believes she too was a victim of drugging and abuse. “You lie! You don’t tell the whole truth, even about your ex-wife! You will die in lies and alone, Dominique Pélicot!” she shouted across the courtroom.
In his remarks about Gisèle, Dominique Pélicot described her as “strong” and “benevolent,” even suggesting she possessed divine qualities. “I had two gods in my life: my mother for 18 years and a different one for nearly 50 years. That’s why I referred to her as ‘saint’,” he remarked, in reference to a testimony given by his son the previous day. Attempting to justify his actions, he invoked his own history of childhood trauma related to sexual violence, ultimately revealing his “motive”: “If I engaged in what I did, with people who willingly accepted my proposals, I must confess that the idea of subduing an unruly woman was my selfish fantasy.”