The Cannes Film Festival said it stopped an actor from walking the red carpet on Thursday because he was accused of sexual assault.
Theo Navarro-Mussy plays a small role as a police officer in the film Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll. The film was set to premiere on Thursday in the festival’s main competition.
French magazine Télérama, which first reported the news, said that three former partners accused Navarro-Mussy of rape in 2018, 2019, and 2020. But last month, the case was closed because there was not enough evidence.
The three women said they want to ask for a new decision and start a civil lawsuit, Télérama reported.
Thierry Frémaux, the Cannes festival director, told Télérama that Navarro-Mussy was banned because the appeal is happening. Navarro-Mussy’s lawyer said this is not true.
Frémaux said, “The process is still going on.” The festival agreed with this and confirmed what Frémaux said when AFP news agency asked them.
Cannes events shaken by assault claims and red carpet ban
If Cannes bans Navarro-Mussy, it means any actor or director being investigated for sexual assault could be stopped from taking part. This would be like the César awards, which are like France’s Oscars. In January 2023, the César awards said they would not allow nominees who are under investigation or convicted of sexual assault.
Navarro-Mussy is 34 years old and became well-known for his role in the French TV show Hippocrate. He denies the accusations but told the magazine Télérama that he understands why the festival made this decision.
Last year, Cannes director Thierry Frémaux was criticized by activists for choosing the film Jeanne du Barry to open the festival. The film starred Johnny Depp, who was coming back after a public court fight with his ex-wife Amber Heard. The court case showed Depp’s difficult personal life with problems like alcohol, drugs, and abuse claims.
A group of French lawmakers finished a report last month about the entertainment industry. They said abuse of actors and workers is very common. The group leader, Sandrine Rousseau, asked Cannes to take strong steps to stop sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional violence.
Navarro-Mussy said he is “worried” about his career. He hopes people will remember the case was closed. “I have explained myself to the justice system and have been cleared,” he said.
His lawyer said they have not been told about any appeal against the case being closed.
Dominik Moll, the director of Dossier 137, told AFP that he did not know about the accusations before working with Navarro-Mussy. He said nothing happened during filming. Moll’s last film, The Night of the 12th, was about violence against women. He said he cares a lot about this issue.
The ban happened after Gérard Depardieu was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. Depardieu is 76 years old and has acted in over 200 movies and TV shows. He is the most famous person in France affected by the #MeToo movement.
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