YouTuber Norman Thavaud denounces the “injustice” suffered after being the target of a judicial investigation for rape and corruption of minors which was closed without further action

The investigation was closed without further action in October 2023 for insufficiently characterized offenses, concluding that the consent of the complainants who had felt “coerced” because of his notoriety had not been deceived.

Former YouTube star Norman Thavaud, the target of a judicial investigation for rape and corruption of minors which was ultimately closed at the end of 2023, broke a silence of several months on social networks on Sunday August 11 to denounce “injustice” suffered in this case. This investigation was closed without further action in October 2023 for insufficiently characterized offenses, concluding that the consent of the complainants who had felt “constraints” because of his notoriety had not been deceived.

“We are living in a difficult time, sometimes even unjust, but which is beneficial for our society”Norman Thavaud declares in a video to his 11.5 million subscribers. “I am no longer presumed innocent. I am innocent.”he adds, deploring the repercussions “cataclysmic” of accusations “fake”. “Freeing up victims’ voices is essential, but for this movement to be sustainable, we must be able to differentiate between true accusations and false accusations. Not recognizing this takes away from the credibility of women’s voices.”he unrolls.

He acknowledges that his “relationship to dating and seduction was surely sometimes inelegant and immature” but denounces the attitude of certain media, which have “immediately put on the pillory without taking into account the slightest presumption of innocence”. “The people’s court has taken over the internet and all the little haters [internautes animés par la haine] did their job properly”he adds. “They have struck a very lucrative chord, it’s as if they bought themselves a feminist conscience overnight.”

“It was such a disproportionate and unfair situation that I no longer had the strength to do anything. The harassment, the relentlessness was such that, for the first time in my life, I considered the worst.”he confesses. The 37-year-old YouTuber explains that he has kept quiet so as not to hinder the investigation, and not to have “more income” for two years and not knowing if he will ever resume his activity. “YouTube claimed in December 2022 to demonetize my channel until further notice”he recalls, and despite the case being closed without further action, “it is still demonetized”meaning that the videos are less highlighted by the algorithm and therefore generate less revenue.