Television star, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor had always found refuge in books, passionate about literature since always. But the community has decided to distance itself from him, the proof with the resignations from the jury for the literary award he chairs, the Prix du Temps regained, reported by AFP.
On December 1, 2021, this award ceremony announced the resignation from its jury of Patrick modiano (Nobel Prize for Literature 2014), David foenkinos (Renaudot prize 2014), Jean-Paul Enthoven (Femina test prize 2013) and Amanda Sthers (author of the blonde Vieuf Juif). According to the press release from the association that created the prize, Le Pari (s) littéraire, “all other members resigned this fall following developments in the PPDA case, given his presence on the jury.” Emmanuelle de Boysson, mentioned in the press release as still being a juror, told AFP that she also resigned in November.
Within the Prix du Temps regained, in homage to Marcel Proust, onlyHéloïse Guay de Bellissen, Denys Viat and Alessandra Fra. The latter had successively told the magazine Close sexual assault by PPDA, then backtracked on a C8 TV show.
The prize must be awarded on December 13 at the hotel Ritz in Paris. A selection of ten novels has been unveiled, with among others Postcard by Anne Berest (Grasset), The Seer of Etampes Abel Quentin (The Observatory) or The Girl We Call by Tanguy Viel (Midnight).
The PPDA case erupted in February, when journalist Florence Porcel filed a rape complaint. As part of the preliminary investigation conducted by the Nanterre prosecutor’s office, 23 women had testified, nine of whom had chosen to file a complaint for rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment. The majority of the charges were time-barred, these complaints were dismissed in June, prompting Florence Porcel to file a complaint again, in November, with the constitution of civil party to obtain the referral to an examining magistrate.
A new blow for PPDA, at worst according to his friend Charles Villeneuve. The dossier of Paris Match on his friendship with the no less controversial Nicolas Hulot will not help improve his public image.
Patrick Poivre d’Arvor remains presumed innocent of the facts alleged against him until the final judgment of this case.