Patrick Bruel Cancels Tour Following Sexual Violence Indictments
- Singer and actor Patrick Bruel cancelled his upcoming autumn tour on September 1, after concluding that the scheduled concerts had become the focal point of a divisive public...
- The French singer was scheduled to embark on a 35-date tour starting on October 2, running through November 21.
- Le Monde reports that mayors in cities including Chartres, Dijon, Strasbourg, and Amiens publicly objected to hosting the performer.
Singer and actor Patrick Bruel cancelled his upcoming autumn tour on September 1, after concluding that the scheduled concerts had become the focal point of a divisive public debate. Agence France-Presse and Le Monde report that the artist faces formal investigation under French law—known as being mis en examen—in connection with multiple allegations of sexual violence.
A 35-Date Anniversary Tour Grounded
The French singer was scheduled to embark on a 35-date tour starting on October 2, running through November 21. The run was designed to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of his 1989 album, Alors regarde.
Public opposition mounted during the summer. Le Monde reports that mayors in cities including Chartres, Dijon, Strasbourg, and Amiens publicly objected to hosting the performer. Furthermore, the French Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Aurore Bergé, stated on August 26, that conditions were not right for the performances to proceed.
Instagram Statement and the Choice for Calm
In a statement published on Instagram on September 1, Bruel addressed the cancellation and his previous attempts to keep the dates on the calendar.
Si j’ai voulu jusqu’ici la maintenir, ce n’était ni un défi, ni une provocation,
Bruel wrote, as cited by Le Monde and Soirmag. Mais je constate qu’aujourd’hui, cette tournée est devenue autre chose. Elle est devenue l’incarnation d’un débat qui la dépasse,
he added, announcing his choice to make a choix de l’apaisement
by calling off all scheduled concerts.
Legal Status and Previous Suspensions
According to reporting from Le Monde, Patrick Bruel faces formal investigation across four distinct legal matters: a 2008 allegation of rape in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a 2010 attempted rape allegation in Brussels, a 2019 allegation of sexual assault and sexual harassment in Perpignan, and a 2019 harassment case in Ajaccio, Corsica.
Additionally, the artist holds the status of témoin assisté (assisted witness) in four other files involving accusations in Dinard, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Neuilly-sur-Seine, and Nyon, Switzerland, as detailed by Le Monde.
The cancellations announced in September follow an earlier suspension of live performances. Le Monde notes that Bruel had already cancelled all concerts through September following an accumulation of public testimonies and formal complaints. While the artist consistently denies wrongdoing and maintains his innocence, the autumn tour faced intense scrutiny from advocacy groups.
Advocacy Group Reactions and Local Relief
Feminist groups celebrated the cancellation of the concert series. The feminist collective NousToutes characterized the tour as indecent and labelled it an insult to victims of sexual violence.
A representative for NousToutes, identified as Claudia in reports by Agence France-Presse and published in Le Monde, noted that coordinated public actions successfully demonstrated how collective mobilization can halt appearances by figures facing such legal inquiries.
Local officials also welcomed the resolution. BFM TV reported that the mayor of Chartres expressed relief and satisfaction following the artist’s formal decision to scrap the tour stops. With the cancellation of all autumn dates, the planned celebration for the milestone anniversary of Alors regarde has been completely called off.