Here are the consequences of the Sofiane Bennacer affair. One month after the exclusion of the actor from the competition, following accusations of rape, the Académie des César announces this Monday, in a press release sent to the 4705 voting members of the competition, its decision for the next edition. “not to highlight people who would be implicated by justice for acts of violence”.
“Out of respect for the victims (even presumed in the event of indictment or non-final conviction), it was decided not to highlight people who would be implicated by justice for acts of violence”, affirms the Academy in a press release.
Concretely, if one of the nominees is indicted for acts of violence, in particular of a sexual or sexist nature, or condemned, he cannot be invited to the ceremony of February 25, 2023, nor to any of the events associated with it. “This withdrawal will also exclude any speaking on behalf of that person during these same events – including if a César were to be awarded to him at the end of the second round of voting”, continues the Academy.
The consequences of the Sofiane Bennacer affair
This decision was taken for the 2023 ceremony, following the indictment at the end of November for rape and violence against the spouse of actor Sofiane Bennacer (who is not named in the Academy press release). The one who held with “The Almond Trees” by Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi his first big role on the screen had been retained in the list of thirty “revelations” of the Caesars, before being released urgently, when the legal proceedings against him have been made public.
The Caesars had immediately considered modifying their rules. Work will take place in this direction in the first semester, “given the magnitude and complexity of these issues, from a moral and legal point of view”.