VEDETTES FACE ALLEGATIONS
Sexual harassment accusations slam local arts scene
Sexual harassment remains a problem in the local entertainment milieu.
Over the past two weeks, there has been a wave of allegations of sexual abuse and harassment levelled at well-known Quebec entertainment figures. Last week, singer Safia Nolin accused TV host Maripier Morin of sexually harassing her in a bar two years ago. Singer Bernard Adamus was dumped by Dare to Care Records after allegations surfaced on social media about inappropriate behaviour. Then Dare to Care president Éli Bissonnette announced he was temporarily leaving his job following charges that he turned a blind eye to Adamus’s behaviour.
Simple Plan bassist David Desrosiers left the band after he was accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Singers Kevin Parent and Yann Perreau also faced allegations of sexual harassment. Parent was dropped by his booking agency, Preste, and Perreau was let go by his record company, Bonsound. The rap group Alaclair Ensemble kicked out member Maybe Watson after stories surfaced about him, and Les Disques Musicor “indefinitely suspended” its ties to singer Alex Nevsky after he admitted to being abusive in a previous relationship. This week, singers Éric Lapointe and Dan Bigras have faced allegations of assault.
In recent days, Juripop, a Montreal-based low-cost legal clinic, has been flooded with messages from people saying they have been victims of sexual assault and/or abuse. This has been spurred by the new wave of allegations on social media.
Juripop executive director Sophie Gagnon said in a phone interview the organization has received hundreds of messages over the past two weeks and they have so far handed about 300 files to the lawyers they work with.
“One out of five people who contact us come from the arts and entertainment industry, which is really not in proportion for the relative weight of that industry in Quebec,” Gagnon said. "What that tells us is that even after #Metoo and even after the fall of Gilbert Rozon and Éric Salvail, people in the arts and entertainment industry still feel that there’s too much of a stigma or too much of a professional cost to be paid if you come forward against someone who usually gives them work.
“If I come forward as a lawyer, I’ll just change firms. But if you’re an actor, it’s such a small industry and most people are not on the payroll. They’re contractual workers. So reputation plays an important role, and you only have one reputation. So no one wants to be identified as the person who comes forward. It can destroy your career. I think we still have to do a lot of improvement in this industry.”
When the #Metoo movement hit three years ago, many high-profile people in the Quebec arts scene were accused of sexual harassment and abuse, most notably Just for Laughs founder Rozon and TV host Salvail. Both are currently before the courts. Salvail is on trial for sexual assault, and Rozon is awaiting trial for rape and indecent assault.
Some are concerned that anonymous accusers can make these allegations on social media and that the public personalities immediately feel the impact, losing contracts, bookings and the trust of the public, even when the charges have not been verified in court or brought in front of the police.
“That part of this makes people really uncomfortable,” said Jennifer Drummond, manager of Concordia University’s Sexual Assault Resource Centre. "It also underlines the importance of people seeking out legal information about the risks involved in posting information and people’s names and identity and accusing people publicly. I am happy to hear that people are contacting Juripop to get that information.
“It raises the question of why people aren’t using the processes that are in place, like the police. What do we need to change so that people will be more likely to use those processes for seeking justice?”
Gagnon says there are dangers when you come forward with such accusations.
“A lot of people came to us and they were very distressed because they’ve received cease-and-desist orders,” she said. “They’ve received threats of legal claims. Some of the people who have come forward on social media are really young and they haven’t anticipated all of the consequences that will follow.”
Gagnon says the recent accusations underline that the problem is still there.
“The victims are not only coming out with their own stories,” she said. “They’re asking society as a whole to change ... to make sure we stop being bystanders when we see sexual violence occurring around us.”