The Paris commercial court on Tuesday dismissed the presenter Sébastien Cauet, removed from NRJ radio since November after being accused of rape, we learned from both parties.
NRJ welcomes the court’s decision
Contacted by AFP, Sébastien Cauet’s lawyer, Me Frédéric Lamoureux, announced his intention to appeal. During the hearing on March 18, the host and his production group Be Aware asked to be compensated, renouncing to demand a return to the air. “The court dismissed Sébastien Cauet and his companies’ claims for compensation,” said NRJ in a press release, which “welcomes” this decision.
At the end of November, the radio announced “the temporary withdrawal” of the antenna of its star presenter, a decision taken “by mutual agreement”, according to it, after a first complaint of rape against him.
Cauet targeted by several complaints for rape and sexual assault
In January, NRJ considered that the contract with the host and his companies was void. The latter contested it by requesting compensation but the commercial court did not call it into question. “For us, it is an obvious disappointment. The court says that a contract can be called into question simply because of a media storm,” commented Cauet’s lawyer to AFP.
The 52-year-old host has presented the weekday show “C’Cauet” since 2010 (with an interruption in 2017-2018). He is now the target of several complaints of rape and sexual assault, accusations which he contests.
At the same time, Cauet himself filed complaints for attempted extortion, slanderous denunciation and harassment. The slot occupied by Cauet’s show on NRJ was taken over by host Louis, with the emphasis placed on the broadcast of songs.