Gérald Marie is a French former model agency boss, who headed

Elite Model Management Elite Model Management (MM) is a modeling agency that originated in Paris in 1972. In 2004, the agencies in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Toronto separated and formed Elite Model Management North America. Elite MM is a subsidiary of El ...

, in Paris. For over three decades he was among the most powerful figures in the fashion industry. He was accused by several women of committing rape and sexual assault during the 1980s and 1990s. He denied the allegations and prosecutors closed the investigation in February 2023 due to the

statute of limitations A statute of limitations, known in civil law systems as a prescriptive period, is a law passed by a legislative body to set the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. ("Time for commencing proceedings") In ...

Sexual misconduct allegations

In February 2021, 11 women who accused Marie of

sexual misconduct Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature which exists on a spectrum that may include a broad range of sexual behaviors considered unwelcome. This includes conduct considered inappropriate on an individual or societal basis of morality, ...

and

rape Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...

were invited to Paris to meet investigators.

Karen Mulder Karen Mulder (born 1 June 1968 or 1970) is a Dutch fashion model. She is known for her work with Versace, Dior, and Chanel during the 1980s and 1990s. Mulder was featured on the cover of ''Vogue'' and was also a Victoria's Secret model, making ...

, a supermodel in the 1990s, said in a television interview that she spent five months in a mental health facility because she was raped by him multiple times. In July 2021, American model Carré Otis filed a complaint against him for allegedly raping her when she was 17. In August 2021, Otis filed a lawsuit alleging that he repeatedly raped her at his Paris apartment. At least 15 women have gone to French authorities with sexual assault allegations against him. His wife between 1987 and 1993, Canadian

supermodel A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model who has a worldwide reputation and background in ''haute couture'' and commercial modeling. The term became popular in the 1990s. Supermodels usually work for prominent fashion designers and clothin ...

Linda Evangelista Linda Evangelista (born May 10, 1965) is a Canadian fashion model. She is regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential models of all time, and has been featured on over 700 magazine covers. Evangelista is primarily known for being t ...

, said she knew nothing about the reported alleged rapes and sexual assaults that would have occurred during her relationship with him. However, she stated that she believes the women who have come forward are telling the truth, and praised their courage. Discussing their relationship in the 2023 documentary The Super Models, Evangelista said: 'I learned that maybe I was in the wrong relationship. It's easier said than done to leave an abusive relationship. I understand that concept, because I lived it. If it was just a matter of saying, 'I want a divorce, see ya'... it doesn't work that way. He knew not to touch my face, not to touch the money-maker, you know?' On 13 February 2023, French prosecutors closed criminal investigation into the rape and sexual assaults, allegedly committed by Marie during the 1980s and 1990s, on the grounds that under France's

statute of limitation A statute of limitations, known in civil law systems as a prescriptive period, is a law passed by a legislative body to set the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. ("Time for commencing proceedings") In m ...

s, the alleged offences had taken place too long ago to be prosecuted. The decision to drop the criminal investigations did not prevent alleged victims from pursuing claims against Marie through the civil courts. Former BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth is among the alleged victims who said they would progress civil cases against Gérald Marie. Brinkworth claims she was sexually assaulted in a Milan nightclub by Marie in 1998, while she was working undercover on a documentary investigation into sex crimes against fashion models. He was the president of

European division and was one of the most powerful men in fashion.

Personal life

He was married to Canadian

between 1987 and 1993. *

References

External links

Former models expose the ugly truth of the beauty industry , 60 Minutes Australia
''YouTube'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Marie, Gerald Living people 20th-century French businesspeople French businesspeople in fashion 20th-century births