The assault charge against “Jeanne du Barry” writer/director/star Maïwenn has become even more complex.
After Maïwenn admits to attacking French journalist Edwy Plenel, the editor-in-chief of Mediapart magazine cites Maïwenn’s possible motive: retaliation for the publication reporting her ex-husband Luc Besson’s sexual abuse allegations. “Léon, the Professional” director Besson was accused in 2018 of repeatedly raping Dutch-Belgian actress Sand Van Roy over the course of two years, as well as several other women. The case against Besson was dropped in 2021 after an investigation.
Maïwenn was married to Besson in 1992; she was 16 when they got married. Besson had known Maïwenn since she was 12 and the pair started dating when she the actress was 15. Maïwenn said during the 1994 DVD extras for the controversial film “Léon, the Professional” that the central relationship was inspired by her romance with Besson. The couple divorced in 1997.
“We have published what (Maïwenn) told the police as part of the Besson investigation,” Plenel said Variety. “When she spoke to the police, she discussed complicated aspects of her relationship with Luc Besson, particularly during their separation. But once our piece was published, we never received any complaints of any kind. That was about five years ago (ago) – that would mean that all this time Maiwenn wanted revenge. But if so, why didn’t she send an email? (We) never even received a phone call from her.
Plenel claimed Maïwenn pulled his hair and spat in his face as he dined at a Paris restaurant. The reporter filed a police report on March 7 and said the meeting took place in late February.
I don’t know Maiwenn, I’ve never met her. I would not have been able to recognize her,” Plenel said. frontline in all #MeToo reveals.
Plenel added of Maïwenn: “She’s blatantly anti-#MeToo and has made a gesture to please her world, which is why she’s bragged about it on TV. We could see a kind of pride that echoed that world.
Plenel noted that he only wanted an apology from Maïwenn, but she “refused”.
During a May 2023 interview, Maïwenn said ‘yes’, assaulted Plenel, but added: ‘This is not the time for me to talk about it. I will talk about it when the time is right. I am very anxious about launching my film”, in reference to “Jeanne du Barry” which opens Cannes.
“Jeanne du Barry” has since been met with protests in Cannes over the casting of Johnny Depp after Amber Heard’s trial over her abuse allegations. Cannes director Thierry Fremaux and Maïwenn stood by Depp following his libel trial victory.
“Cannes has chosen a completely crazy symbol for its opening night selection: a film by Maïwenn about a courtesan in search of power,” Plenel stressed. “The mythology propounded in the film, coupled with the casting of Johnny Depp, his anti-#MeToo comments and now this aggression that he seems to be proud of and that makes people laugh on TV – says something.”
He added: “I have not received a message from Monsieur Thierry Fremaux saying: ‘Look, this is our choice, but make sure we are not sympathetic to Maïwenn’s acts.’ It could have been done out of fairness or courtesy.”
Plenel and Mediapart previously published “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” star Adèle Haenel’s MeToo allegation that French director Christophe Ruggia sexually assaulted her when she was 12 on the set of “The Devils.” Haenel recently criticized the French film industry for defending known “sex offenders”.
