Vincent Cerutti Breaks Silence After Sexual Assault Conviction

Vincent Cerutti has been convicted of sexual assault by the Paris Correctional Court following a case involving his conduct toward a former colleague.

On February 4, 2026, the court sentenced the presenter to eight months of suspended imprisonment. The first-instance conviction is based on acts classified as sexual assault that occurred during Cerutti’s tenure on the morning show of the radio station Chérie FM.

Details of the Conviction

The legal proceedings centered on allegations made by Caroline Barel, a former colleague who denounced Cerutti for biting her on the buttocks on two separate occasions. These incidents took place between 2015 and 2016.

The verdict was delivered after a hearing held on December 9, 2025. The resulting sentence of eight months suspended was notably higher than the shorter sentence requested by the public prosecutor during the trial.

Caroline Barel described the outcome as a victory, stating that the most important element for her was the court using the word guilty.

Response from Vincent Cerutti

Following the ruling, Cerutti has broken his silence to dispute the sexual characterization of the acts. Appearing on the program TBT9, he claimed that the incidents were même pas un bizutage (not even hazing) and asserted, Ce n’est pas une agression sexuelle (It’s not a sexual assault).

In a reaction reported by TV Magazine, Cerutti expressed emotion regarding the court’s decision, stating, Je pouvais être con, mais de là à me dire agresseur sexuel… (I could be stupid, but to call me a sexual aggressor…).

Cerutti also claimed that he discovered the existence of the sexual assault complaint through Sandrine Quétier.

The host has announced that he is appealing the conviction.

Industry and Judicial Context

The case highlights a shifting climate within the radio and audiovisual sectors, which have increased vigilance regarding workplace behavior and imposed familiarity.

The timeline of the case reflects a decade-long process, with the acts occurring in 2015 and 2016 and the conviction arriving in February 2026. This gap illustrates the pace of judicial proceedings, which involves complaints, dismissals, and adversarial debates.