Paris: The Cannes Film Festival has prohibited French actor Theo Navarro-Mussy from attending the red carpet premiere of the competition film Case 137, following sexual assault allegations made against him.
Festival director Thierry Fremaux confirmed the decision in an interview with Télérama magazine, stating that he had agreed with the film’s producers to bar Navarro-Mussy from the event. Fremaux emphasized that the move was taken due to the absence of a final court ruling in the case.
Navarro-Mussy, who appears in a supporting role in the detective drama directed by Dominik Moll, was previously the subject of a joint complaint filed by three former partners, all actors, accusing him of rape. However, the case was dropped last month by prosecutors citing insufficient evidence, according to the actor’s lawyer.
The complainants reportedly intend to file a new complaint, Télérama added.
Speaking to Reuters, Navarro-Mussy’s lawyer Marion Pouzet-Gagliardi said, “To date, there is no indication that any proceedings would continue,” and added that “no new complaint had been formally recorded yet.”
Prosecutors declined to comment when contacted by the international news agency Reuters.
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When asked to confirm the red carpet ban, a festival spokesperson directed Reuters to Fremaux’s remarks in Télérama. The decision is believed to be an unprecedented step for the Cannes Film Festival.
In the same interview, Fremaux also revealed that he was awaiting further details regarding a separate report involving another film industry figure that had recently come to his attention.
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This year, the Cannes Film Festival introduced a new requirement for producers to guarantee that all submitted films uphold the safety, dignity, and integrity of their cast and crew. The policy shift comes in response to criticism that the festival had been slow to align with the #MeToo movement, which has exposed widespread abuse and harassment across various sectors, including entertainment, politics, and business.
Fremaux’s decision arrives in the same week as a landmark ruling in France’s most high-profile #MeToo case. Renowned actor Gérard Depardieu was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set. Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations, and his legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict.
