Illan Castronovo, a former reality TV contestant, has been formally charged with rape by the Blois court. This decision follows complaints filed by two young women from the Loir-et-Cher region regarding incidents dating back to 2018. He denies the accusations and maintains that the relationships were consensual. As a reminder, he first gained notoriety in 10 Perfect Couples, before going on to appear in several reality TV shows such as The Princes and Princesses of Love, The Villa of Broken Hearts, Moundir and the Apprentice Adventurers, Angels:, The Marseillais vs The Rest of the World, The Marseillais in Dubai et Objective: Rest of the WorldHe was especially present between 2017 and 2021, a period in which he became a recurring figure in romance, adventure and contestant confrontation programs.
A night out at a nightclub at the heart of the scandal
The alleged events took place during an evening at a nightclub in Fougères-sur-Bièvres, in the Loir-et-Cher department. The two complainants, aged 18 and 20 at the time, recount losing consciousness after drinking a glass of wine allegedly offered to them by Illan Castronovo.
Waking up, pants down, black holes
One of the young women claims she woke up with her pants down, her back to Illan Castronovo, who also allegedly had his pants down. She also says she was woken by the light of a phone pointed at her, held by Julien Bert, another reality TV personality mentioned in the complaints. The second complainant says she left the club's dressing rooms with no clear recollection of what had happened after spending time with Illan Castronovo and Julien Bert. She claims to have noticed bruises on her body and that her tampon was missing.
Videos and physical evidence in the proceedings
The case file mentions physical evidence: marks observed on the plaintiffs and videos shared on social media, presented as supporting their statements. However, both women admit to having only fragmented memories of that evening.
Four years between the complaints and the indictment
The complaints were filed in 2022, four years after the alleged events. A judicial investigation was subsequently opened in Blois. The indictment of Illan Castronovo marks a new stage in the proceedings.
Illan Castronovo denies the accusations. His defense rests on the assertion that the relationships were consensual. The two complainants, for their part, maintain their statements and say they see this indictment as progress after a lengthy legal process.
