The Comédie-Française has announced the summoning of Nâzim Boudjenah, one of its residents, for an interview prior to dismissal, following new accusations of death threats. This decision follows revelations made during a parliamentary hearing on January 13, where Green MP Sandrine Rousseau claimed to have been directly targeted by threats from the actor in July 2024. This affair rekindles the debate on the management of violence within cultural institutions.
An actor already facing several accusations
Nâzim Boudjenah, aged 52, had already been sentenced in 2021 to six months in prison, suspended, for death threats against his ex-partner, Marie Coquille-Chambel. Despite this sentence, he remained an employee of the Comédie-Française, although away from the sets. During the hearing before the parliamentary commission of inquiry into violence in live performance, Sandrine Rousseau revealed that the actor had also made explicit threats against her, evoking acts of serious violence. She filed a complaint, and the trial is set for June 6.
In its statement, the Comédie-Française said it had "taken all necessary measures to protect the health and safety of its employees," while refuting accusations of inaction. The institution said the discovery of these new facts justifies the actor's summons for possible dismissal.
A reaction that was strongly criticized
Despite these measures, reactions were not long in coming. The #MeTooThéâtre collective denounced the late and inappropriate management, calling for a rally in front of the Comédie-Française on January 29 to protest against the "culture of impunity". Marie Coquille-Chambel, a former victim of the actor and an active activist, continues to publicly denounce violence in the theater world, particularly through committed shows.
The case highlights the difficulties that large institutions have in managing problematic behaviour internally, and raises the question of employers' responsibility in the face of serious acts committed outside the workplace. With mounting accusations and several ongoing legal proceedings, the case of Nâzim Boudjenah has become a symbol of the challenges that the cultural world faces in the fight against sexist and sexual violence.
