Why this sequence of TPMP, where a young man testifies to his rape, is revolting

Wednesday May 5, 2021, the policeman Bruno Attal was invited in the TPMP program, presented by Cyril Hanouna. He was facing Tommi, who accuses the police of a police station in the 19th arrondissement of Paris of rape. A sequence of nameless violence, where the blaming victim was unfortunately in the spotlight.

April 29, 2021, Street Press and web television The media revealed Tommi’s testimony. In this investigation, this 23-year-old resident of Essonne, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed to have been raped on April 5, 2021 by police in a police station in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. Through his lawyer Me Cynthia Vazquez, the young man filed a complaint against X for willful racist violence, rape and invasion of privacy by persons holding public authority.

As for the police headquarters, also contacted by Street Press, she says that a “investigation is underway, the IGPN (the police force) having been seized in judicial and administrative. In addition, two police officers lodged a complaint for contempt and rebellion against the accused.”

Tommi against Bruno Attal in TPMP

This Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Tommi was invited on the set of the program Touche pas à mon poste broadcast on C8, in the company of the journalist Taha Bouhafs, who worked on the investigation of The media. In front of them, the police officer Bruno Attal, who had already taken a position defending the police in the case concerning Michel Zecler, victim of police violence revealed by Loopsider in November 2020. In the program Touche pas à mon poste , Bruno Attal questioned Tommi’s testimony and his rape accusations. He even said, facing an incredulous Taha Bouhafs, that Tommi would have done himself the lesions he presented to the anus following his visit to the police station.

A shocking sequence that advocates the blaming victim

The problem with this sequence is nothing less than the words of Bruno Attal who, while an investigation is underway and a complaint has been filed, calls into question Tommi’s testimony. The evidence is thus dismissed out of hand. While the medical profession has clearly noted the lesions and bruises of the alleged victim, Bruno Attal, he considers that Tommi injured himself.

Worse yet, Bruno Attal judges Tommi’s speech in the media, claiming that rape victims “do not walk around on TV sets”, and questions the suffering of the alleged victim. This staging of great violence aims to make the young man feel guilty, and by extension, that of anyone who has the courage to tell that they have suffered rape or sexual violence. Not to mention the intimidation exerted on Tommi, whose hands are shaking on Cyril Hanouna’s television set. Indeed, Bruno Attal does not stop there, since he threatens the young man of 23 years: “I can tell you, sir, that you will be prosecuted for slanderous denunciation. You have implicated the police, do not worry: justice will pass and you will be prosecuted.”

In short, this staging does not serve the fight against police violence or against sexual violence. While it is imperative to create “safe” spaces so that everyone can witness traumatic experiences, television has a role to play, and this time again, it is totally failed. The only “positive” effect: this sequence proves, if it were necessary, that it is urgently necessary to address the problem of the authorities taking charge of victims of sexual violence.

Melanie Bonvard

Mélanie deciphers pop culture from a societal angle and questions the female gaze in films or even series, because everything is a question of gaze, she …