Karine Viseur (55) is the only Belgian victim to have filed a complaint against the famous French singer, while there are 32 allegations of sexual assault in total. She describes how she was assaulted in 2010 during a press day for a film. Bruel denies all the allegations, and his European tour has been cancelled.

(Staff: Belgium & France / Justice & Society)

French singer Patrick Bruel (67), known for hits such as “Casser la voix”, is facing a wave of sexual assault allegations. In total, 32 women have filed complaints against him in France and Belgium, and the artist is officially being investigated for rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. One of these alleged victims is Karine Viseur, a 55-year-old Belgian woman who decided to make her story public after 16 years of silence.

“I’m not the only victim in Belgium”

Karine Viseur said she was the only Belgian victim to have filed a complaint against Bruel, but that she knows of other women in Belgium who were allegedly assaulted and do not have the courage to speak out. She hopes her testimony will encourage other victims to come forward.

What happened in 2010?

The alleged assault took place in 2010, when Karine, then 38, was working in public relations for the film “Comme les cinq doigts de la main”, in which Patrick Bruel played one of the main roles. That day, she was supposed to accompany the artist to an appearance on RTBF’s news programme.

According to her account, from their first meeting at the station, Bruel attempted inappropriate physical contact: he stroked her back, grabbed her by the waist and tried to kiss her neck. She pushed him away each time and told him “no”, but he continued. Her then-husband, who was driving the actors, noticed what was happening, but Karine did not want to make a scene because the day was important for her career.

The assault in the toilet

That evening, before the live broadcast, Karine and Bruel headed towards the toilets. “He came up behind me and put his hands under my skirt. He pushed me into the toilet and tried to kiss me. I pushed him away, and he said: ‘You’ll love it. All women like it’”, she told the Belgian publication. According to Karine, Bruel was completely sober. Immediately after the incident, he entered the television studio and behaved as if nothing had happened, while she was still in shock.

Why did she remain silent for 16 years?

Karine filed a complaint immediately after the incident, but withdrew it almost immediately. “I wasn’t ready. I didn’t tell anyone, not even my husband,” she said. Feelings of shame and doubt overwhelmed her: she wondered whether she had sent the wrong signals or laughed too much that day. “You look for the mistake in yourself and start doubting yourself,” she said.

Current reactions and context

In total, 32 women have filed complaints against Patrick Bruel: 31 in France and one in Belgium, that of Karine Viseur. The artist is officially being held in connection with four cases, including an attempted rape case involving Karine. Bruel was arrested for a short time but was released. Although he denies all the allegations, he recently announced on Instagram that he was cancelling his autumn European tour, including the concert scheduled for 6 October at Vorst Nationaal in Brussels.

Bruel’s lawyer could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

Conclusion

The case involving Patrick Bruel adds to the wave of sexual assault allegations shaking the entertainment world. Karine Viseur’s testimony is an example of the courage needed to break the silence and seek justice, even years after the alleged events. She hopes her story will encourage other victims to come forward and show that no one is above the law.