Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut finds herself at the heart of a delicate situation. She was a guest on the show 100% BelgianOn the Les News 24 channel, the former Miss France was questioned about the accusations against Patrick Bruel, with whom she had a past relationship. Faced with the question, Jean-Pierre Pernaut's widow appeared uncomfortable and refused to take sides.
"Patrick Bruel is a friend, Flavie Flament, I adore her."
Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut knows both protagonists of the case personally. On one side, Patrick Bruel, whom she presents as a friend. On the other, Flavie Flament, for whom she expresses great affection. “Patrick Bruel is a friend, Flavie Flament, I adore her. I can’t take sides with either of them; only the courts can decide.”she said during her television appearance.
A past relationship with Patrick Bruel
Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut also mentioned having been in a relationship with Patrick Bruel when she was younger. She explained that she dated the singer when she was around 25 or 26 years old. She described this period as a relationship without violence and referred to him as a man "Kind, gentle, and considerate." This long-standing close relationship makes his public statements particularly sensitive, especially as Patrick Bruel faces several accusations of sexual violence.
Flavie Flament filed a rape complaint
The case took on a new dimension after Flavie Flament filed a complaint. The television presenter accuses Patrick Bruel of raping her in 1991, when she was a minor. She initially testified under a pseudonym before publicly revealing her identity. Patrick Bruel denies these accusations. The courts are now examining the alleged events, despite their age. The case has also reignited the debate on the statute of limitations for sexual assault.
Patrick Bruel denies the allegations
Patrick Bruel denies the accusations against him. In a public statement, the singer asserts that he has never forced a woman and says he trusts the justice system to establish the truth.
"Only justice will be able to speak."
Faced with the media frenzy, Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut says she is awaiting the judicial conclusions. She affirms that she understands the seriousness of the accusations while refusing to publicly condemn either party without a court ruling. In another statement, she also declared that she doesn't see why Flavie Flament would lie, while reiterating that the justice system must pursue the case to its conclusion.
