The rapper Lomepal, Antoine Valentinelli of his real name, is targeted by a preliminary investigation for rape, opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office. A complaint was filed in 2020 against him for facts that occurred in 2017 abroad.
The Paris prosecutor’s office, which confirmed with the World information from Parisian and the site Actu.frentrusted the investigations to the 3e judicial police district. “The investigation began in October 2020, upon receipt of the complaint”, specifies the public ministry. According to the two media, the incriminated facts would have taken place in New York, in the United States.
The rapper denied these accusations on Thursday, saying he was ready to “respond to justice”. “Did I force anyone to do anything?” No. Were there any illegal things? No. And I’ll never let it be said”he wrote on Instagram, denouncing ” lies “. “I have nothing to hide, and no reason to hide”he added.
“Delirious and invented stories that circulate in the music industry”
In his river message on his Instagram account, Antoine Valentinelli explains “having had many relationships” during the early years of his career. “Encounters at the end of the evening, where we make love without knowing each other, one-night relationships. And for me as for everyone else, there can be misunderstandings, different perceptions. There are some in the life as in that of each and every one.he explains.
“Then there are the wacky, made-up stories circulating in the music industry. We would pay women, we would sign silence agreements, you name it. I’ve been hearing this for months. All of this is absurd and false. It simply never existed, and it circulates endlessly, and it is taken up on the networks, and on press sites ”assures the rapper.
Climate of suspicion
The announcement of an investigation against him comes in a climate of suspicion around the thirty-something. On July 19, the editor-in-chief of Joly Môme, Jenna Boulmedaïs, denounced on Instagram THE “sad silence” surrounding the “illegal – even inhumane – acts by men who are far too well off”. “It’s been two years since I heard, in the music world, testimonies of women who suffered the inappropriate and unwanted gestures of Antoine Lomepal”she developed on the social network, assuring that “the whole music industry knows about it”.
Jenna Boulmedaïs received threats after this publication and is the subject of a complaint from the French Music Federation, said her lawyer Anthony Winkel.
From 13e district of Paris, Lomepal has become one of the most popular rappers on the French scene in recent years. Released in 2017, his first album, Flipsold 400,000 copies, and the next, Jeannine, was propelled diamond disc (500,000 sales). His third opus, Wrong Orderquickly topped the sales charts in September.
The rapper is currently continuing his summer festival tour. On display at the Vieilles Charrues, in Carhaix, and the Francofolies, in La Rochelle, in July, it is expected on Sunday August 6 in Cannes, on the program of the Electronic Beaches.