The French court opens an investigation into the rape of minors against Gérald Marie (70). Marie was the boss of Elite, one of the world’s most famous modeling agencies, for many years. He was married to supermodel Linda Evangelista from 1987 to 1993.
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The accusations are about facts from the eighties and nineties. Gérald Marie had a reputation for having relationships with young models. He also often offered shelter to the girls when they arrived in Paris from the United States or Australia. He would have raped some of them.
One of the complaints comes from the American Carré Otis-Sutton, later also the face of Calvin Klein. She was barely seventeen when she stayed with Gérald Marie. One night, Linda Evangelista – then his fiancée – was on a trip, and Marie forced herself upon her. She would be raped by him more often that year.
American Jill Dodd was nineteen when she was raped by Marie in 1980, Swedish Ebba Karlsson 21 when she was assaulted by him during a casting. Her then-boyfriend has already confirmed that she told him the story back then. Only such allegations were dismissed for years.
Lisa Brinkworth, a former BBC journalist, has also filed a complaint, hoping that other victims will dare to come forward. “It is urgent that fashion also experience a #MeToo moment,” reports Brinkworth.
Gérald Marie denies the charges.
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