Theo Navarro-Mussy has a secondary role as a police officer in the film Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll which is to premiere on Thursday in the festival’s main competition. Navarro-Mussy was accused of rape by three former partners in 2018, 2019, and 2020, but the case was dropped last month for lack of evidence.
The three women plan to appeal and file a civil lawsuit.
Cannes festival director Thierry Frémaux confirmed to report that Navarro-Mussy had been excluded because an appeal was under way. Navarro-Mussy’s lawyer denied this. “The procedure is still ongoing,” Frémaux was quoted as saying. The festival confirmed the decision and Frémaux’s remarks when contacted by news agency AFP.
Télérama was informed by Thierry Frémaux, the director of the Cannes festival, that Navarro-Mussy had been disqualified due to an ongoing appeal. This was refuted by Navarro-Mussy’s attorney. According to reports, Frémaux stated, “The process is still in progress.” When news agency AFP contacted the festival, they confirmed the decision and Frémaux’s comments.
It would appear from the case against Navarro-Mussy that any director or actor who is currently being investigated for sexual assault would be disqualified. It would bring Cannes into line with the César awards, France’s Oscar counterpart, which declared in January 2023 that nominees who have been found guilty of sexual assault or who are being investigated for it would not be allowed to attend.
The 34-year-old Navarro-Mussy, who starred in the French medical TV program Hippocrate, says he understands the festival organizers’ decision, but he denies the accusations.
Activists had criticized Frémaux in 2023 for selecting the Johnny Depp-starring movie Jeanne du Barry to kick off the festival. Following a contentious legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard that exposed his chaotic private life involving accusations of domestic abuse, drug use, and alcohol, Depp made a triumphant return with the film.
Last month, the results of a French parliamentary investigation into the entertainment sector were released, and lawmakers came to the conclusion that mistreatment of artists was “endemic.” Sandrine Rousseau, a Green member of the National Assembly and the leader of the inquiry, urged Cannes to lead by example in eradicating physical and psychological violence as well as sexual assault.
Navarro-Mussy stated that he was “concerned” about his career and hoped that the closure of the matter was “considered.” “I have provided the legal system with an explanation and have been cleared at this point,” he continued.
According to his attorney, he was not informed of any appeal against the decision to end the investigation.
Before beginning work with Navarro-Mussy, Moll, the director of Dossier 137, said AFP he was not aware of the accusations, “and during the film nothing happened.” The Night on the 12th, Moll’s previous award-winning film, addressed the problem of violence against women. “Very sensitive to this issue,” he declared.
Following Gérard Depardieu’s conviction for sexually abusing two women in a 2021 movie, the ban was imposed. The 76-year-old is the most well-known person involved in France’s reaction to the scandal, having appeared in over 200 movies and TV shows.
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