A man accuses the philosopher of sexual touching during the summer of 2015. Mr. Jollien would also have asked him to make him a massage and proposed to undress. The investigations are “in progress”.
Le Monde with AFP
The Swiss philosopher and writer Alexandre Jollien is the subject of an investigation in Paris after a complaint for sexual assault and exhibition filed in June 2021, said the Paris prosecutor’s office on Friday, June 10, at the France- Press (AFP), which confirms Parisian information . The investigations were entrusted to the police station of 5 e district of Paris and are “in progress”, added the prosecution.
The 46 -year -old philosopher, heavily handicapped by a cerebral motor infirmity, “completely disputes” these accusations, said his lawyer, Philippe Guillemard. “I have never imposed anything on any sexual order,” said the philosopher in a written exchange with the Parisian, whose AFP obtained a copy.
In the columns of the newspaper, a former trainee of the publishing house Les Arènes accuses him of having engaged in him in sexual touching in a Parisian hotel room, during working sessions, during the ‘summer 2015. According to his story, Mr. Jollien would also have asked him to make him a hand massage – which he would have accepted – and proposed several times to undress – what he would have refused.
“My point is just to say that I was harassed”
In the exchange quoted by Le Parisien, the writer admitted having found himself once naked before the trainee, in the presence of other collaborators during a working session. The young man, then aged 20, said he talked about it in the publishing house but did not file a complaint at the time. “I do not blame Alexandre Jollien. (…) My point is just to say that I was harassed,” said the young man on a daily basis.
M e Guillemard said he had “the impression that the timing is not spontaneous: there is a desire to harm”. “The people who know him know that it is the very kind. [The facts denounced] are in total contradiction with what he is and what he could express through his writings, he is very concerned with others and Respect for the law, “added the council, adding that his client had not yet been heard.
The lawyer for the former intern could not be reached immediately. Solicited by AFP, the current editor of the writer, Gallimard, in whom he passed after the alleged facts, did not wish to comment on the case.
Alexandre Jollien, married and father, is the author of successful works such as the praise of weakness (Cerf, 1999) or the naked philosopher (Seuil, 2010). He was recently playing in the film almost, alongside his friend Bernard Campan, actor and director.