Accused of rape, the actor Sofiane Bennacer received the support of his companion, Valéria Bruni-Tedeschi, who denounced a “media lynching” against him, in a press release published Friday, November 25, 2022.
Currently starring in the film The Almond Treeswhere he embodies the main male character, Sofiane Bennacer is in turmoil. Indeed, the actor was indicted for acts of rape and violence, following the accusations of several former companions. Currently in a relationship with the actress Valeria Bruni-Tedeschiwho has just made The Almond Trees, the young actor aged 25 has received the support of the one who shares his life. Whereas the sister of Carla Bruni had remained silent since the start of the affairshe finally decided to break the silence by publishing a press release to defend her companion on Friday November 25, 2022. “To this day everyone knows that he has not been judged, and such a process is, in my opinion, pure media lynching, a process far removed from a desire to inform objectively and impartially.“, she wrote in particular.
“Today is the day against violence against women. I want to say first of all that I have an immense respect for the liberation of women’s speech and a very deep attachment to the fact that they can be heard. I myself was abused as a child and I know the pain of not being taken seriously. I have children and it matters to me more than anything that they live in a society that hears them and protects them. This does not prevent me from being amazed, on reading the newspaper Liberation today, to see the treatment reserved for a young man who is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, without any respect for the people who work there and for the presumption of innocence“, underlined Valéria Bruni-Tedeschi.
Valéria Bruni-Tedeschi: “When you film someone, you see who you have in front of you”
“I was artistically impressed by Sofiane Bennacer from the first second of the casting of my film and I wanted him to be the main actor despite rumors I was aware of. My producers expressed fears and reluctance, but I told them that these rumors did not stop me and that I couldn’t imagine making the film without him. They trusted me, in the respect they cultivate for the artistic choices of their directors. I thank them, and I take full responsibility for my choice.“, also specified the director.
“Later, we learned that a complaint had been filed. Filming having started, it was legally unthinkable for them to change actors. For my part, a few months ago I got to know Sofiane Bennacer at work and especially during the long period of rehearsals, and to be completely confident about their human qualities : when you film someone, you see who you have in front of you. I am indignant this morning that a newspaper like Liberation can trample on the presumption of innocence to such an extent, shamefully show off this affair and put on the front page the photo of a young man with blood on his hand“, finally concluded the sister of Carla Bruni.