French Director Luc Besson Accused of Rape

27-year-old actress says French director drugged, raped her in Paris hotel
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 20, 2018 9:21 AM CDT
French Director Luc Besson Accused of Rape
In this 2017 file photo, Luc Besson at the Empire Film Awards. French authorities are investigating a rape accusation against Besson, who denies wrongdoing. A 27-year-old woman filed a complaint Friday accusing the 59-year-old director of drugging and penetrating her at the hotel Bristol in Paris.   (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Even as a turbulent Cannes took a bow on Saturday, French director Luc Besson was facing a rape investigation after a 27-year-old actress told French authorities that he drugged and raped her in a Paris hotel room, reports EW. "Luc Besson categorically denies these fantasist accusations," Besson's lawyer said, per the BBC. "[The complainant] is someone he knows, towards whom he has never behaved inappropriately." The unidentified woman says that on May 10, Besson drugged her tea at the Bristol Hotel; she says she awoke to find him groping and penetrating her in what she terms a "violent sexual assault." She says that before the assault, the 59-year-old Besson had made her feel professionally compelled to engage in sexual relations for the past two years. (More Luc Besson stories.)

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