Comedian and host Jasmin Roy is being sued by a man who accuses him of sexual assault and defamation, as well as having then used his notoriety to harm him.
The action for damages, obtained by The duty, was filed by Jean-François Robillard on Friday morning at the Montreal courthouse. He is claiming $500,000 from Jasmin Roy, namely $350,000 in pecuniary damages and $150,000 in punitive damages.
Mr. Robillard, a 46-year-old psychosocial worker, says in his statement that he was introduced to Jasmin Roy in a bar in Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi, around 2001. The actor, who complimented him on his appearance by meeting, was there to offer a performance on stage. During the show, he went to the bar counter where Mr. Robillard was and sucked his ear “until he took his earring off with his tongue”, can we read there, gestures which made him “extremely uncomfortable. »
He pushed him away, he said. Despite this, when he later went to the bathroom, Mr. Roy forced open the door of the cabin where he was, blocking the exit. Without his consent, Mr. Roy masturbated in front of him and ejaculated on him, it is alleged. Mr. Robillard froze, feeling paralyzed, can we read in the procedure.
Jean-François Robillard explains that he first tried to minimize the impact of what he experienced. But it followed him over the years, he explains. He ended up giving up his studies to become a police officer, because he questioned himself, doubting his ability to react well in a stressful situation given his reaction during the alleged attack. He then began studying humanities at CEGEP, which he abandoned due to growing anxiety, he wrote in his procedure.
The actor claims not to know his accuser and denies all his allegations. He also accuses Mr. Robillard of harassing him for three years.
Momentum of denunciation movements
It was in 2020, in the wake of movements to denounce sexual assault that Mr. Robillard claims to have understood the seriousness of the one he suffered and the consequences it had, and still has, on his life.
He then questions himself deeply: as a social worker, he encourages others to denounce and feels like an “impostor” for not having done so himself, he alleges. This is why in July 2020 he wrote a post on social networks in which he revealed the sexual assault he claims to have suffered.
None of his allegations have yet been proven in court.
The following month, Jasmin Roy, a well-known figure in the Quebec cultural community, now 57 years old, sent him a formal notice demanding, among other things, $150,000. Mr. Robillard maintains that he was scared and then withdrew the publication.
Then, “taking his courage in both hands,” he wrote, he went to the police station and filed a formal complaint for sexual assault.
In his action for damages, it is alleged that a police investigation was initiated and that Mr. Robillard was met by an investigator and a lawyer from the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) in 2021. They would have explained to him that Mr. Roy refused to meet with them, and one witness withdrew at the last minute. In short, that even if they believe his version of the facts, there is not enough evidence to lay charges against Jasmin Roy, it is alleged.
Mr. Robillard posted another post about the alleged assault, which he also later withdrew.
Jasmin Roy acts. He informs Mr. Robillard that he intends to obtain an injunction and damages for defamation, for himself and for the foundation that bears his name. He blames Mr. Robillard for the appearance of his name on the online list of alleged attackers “Say his name” and claims to have himself been the victim of threats from Internet users. Except that before taking these steps in court, he wants his anonymity to be preserved during the course of the proceedings: in short, he does not want his name to appear anywhere, saying that he is particularly worried about the impact on the work of his foundation, which fights against bullying. The actor lost this battle: all the courts, up to the Supreme Court, refused this request for anonymity.
After this final refusal last week, Jasmin Roy granted numerous interviews to the media. He would then have made numerous false and defamatory remarks with regard to Jean-François Robillard, with the aim of harming him, denounces the latter in his legal action.
He seeks reparation for all the wrongs he has suffered. First for the sexual assault which had many negative consequences in her life: episodes of drug use “to escape the reality of the assault suffered”, anxiety, panic attacks and ‘insomnia. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic shock as a result of the assault, it is alleged. He also claims financial compensation for defamation.
“He has suicidal urges which have been exacerbated since the defendant’s numerous defamatory statements [Jasmin Roy] in the media”, is it written in the action.