Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and Nicolas Hulot were in turmoil in 2021. The former flagship presenter of TF1 and the ex-minister were accused of sexual assault and both were investigated. That of Nicolas Hulot was dismissed since the courts considered that the facts, which allegedly took place in 1989, were time-barred. In Jordan de Luxe’s show, At Jordan’sbroadcast on C8 Wednesday September 27, 2023, Yann Arthus-Bertrand made some confidences. The famous photographer first spoke about his relationship with Nicolas Hulot. “I always had a lot of admiration for him”, he began, then specifying: “He is certainly the person I know who spoke best about the environment and ecology”. However, Yann Arthus-Bertrand assures that he has not “I was never his friend. He was someone who was quite secretive, who was always afraid and that’s one of my criticisms, I told him so when he resigned.” Subsequently, the 77-year-old director confided that he had no contact with Nicolas Hulot. “Not very long ago, I said to myself that I should give him a quick call because, like PPDA, who I knew well, they did some stupid things, but maybe after a while you can forgive and say ‘can we talk?'”, he declared, in complete transparency.
Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, “a crazy flirt” according to the photographer
In 2021, it’s in the columns of Parisian that Florence Porcel, a writer, accused Patrick Poivre d’Arvor of rape. Facts which allegedly took place for the first time in 2004 then in 2009. An investigation was then opened and eight women then filed a complaint against the former presenter. Faced with Jordan de Luxe, the famous photographer spoke of his friendship with the man we nickname PPDA. “I was quite friendly with him and he’s someone who did stupid things, he wasn’t perfect“, he began, then adding: “We wrote a book together, I knew him well but he was a crazy flirt.” For Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the most important thing in this kind of situation is to move forward. “You have to know how to forgive, not to push them down and continue to put your head under the water,” he assured, specifying that he “regrets, for Nicolas Hulot, as for PPDA, not having given them a call”. “And I’m going to do it!” he then assured. Regarding the comments made about the former presenter over the months, Yann Arthus-Bertrand declares: “I don’t know the story well… he was a good friend. Everything we learned afterwards was true… but I don’t know.”, he concluded. Remember that Patrick Poivre d’Arvor remains presumed innocent of the facts with which he is accused, until proven otherwise by the competent authorities.