The former boss of the Elite Europe modeling agency, Gerald Marie, in January 2019. -
Photo provided to "20 Minutes"
According to our information, the former boss of Elite Model Management Europe is targeted by a complaint for "sexual assault" and three reports, in particular for "rape of a minor" and "rape".
In the 1980s, a former leader of Elite Chicago warned young models against the sulphurous reputation of the French agent.
In 1999, a controversial BBC report faltered his career, but Gérald Marie was able to bounce back and is now the owner of a Parisian agency.
Cindy Crawford.
Naomi Campbell.
Linda Evangelista.
For forty years, Gérald Marie has rubbed shoulders with the most beautiful women in the world.
From Paris to Milan, John Casablancas' former partner has been one of the most influential modeling agents on the planet.
But if the former boss of Elite Europe has never hidden mixing work and pleasure, four women today accuse him of having crossed the red line of consent.
According to our information, a complaint for "sexual assault" was filed before the Paris prosecutor's office this week by a British journalist, accompanied by reports for "rape on a minor", "rape" and "sexual assault" of three former models.
Very discreet since the emergence of the #MeToo movement and the reappearance of accusations against agent Jean-Luc Brunel, Gérald Marie, still active in the Parisian agency Oui Management at the age of 70, is today confronted with his past.
Nice, September 3, 2001. Gérald Marie poses in the middle of young women who participate in the Elite Model Look contest.
- PASCAL GUYOT / AFP
"If you want to work, you have to fuck me"
End of the 1970s. Gérald Marie made his ranges in the Paris Planning agency, alongside François Lano.
He quickly carved out a reputation as an aggressive and intractable agent.
As well to negotiate the contracts of the models as to invite them in bed.
“He liked to sleep with the girls.
His philosophy was "If you want to work, you have to fuck me" ", relates photographer Jacques Silberstein in
Models
, the reference book by American journalist Michael Gross.
It was at this time that John Casablancas, the founder of Elite, left for New York to declare war on the American agencies Ford and Wilhelmina.
When suggested to him an alliance with Gérald Marie in 1985, he exploded.
According to his partner, Francesca Magugliani, quoted by Michael Gross, he says: “[Gérald Marie] is sordid.
He hits the girls.
He rapes them.
He takes cocaine.
Less than a year later, Casablancas puts his reservations aside.
Gérald Marie joins Elite as a partner and takes the head of European affairs.
The founder of the Elite agency John Casablancas (left), the photographer Patrick Demarchelier (center) and the president of Elite Europe Gérald Marie in 1996. - BOULET / BEBERT BRUNO / SIPA
Underage models staying at his home
Like John Casablancas, the French agent connects relationships with models.
Some are major, some are not.
He left the Australian Lisa Rutledge for the American Christine Bolster, who arrived in Paris at the age of 15.
He replaces her with Linda Evangelista, whom he married in 1987.
Two of the reports aimed at Gérald Marie date from this period.
The American Jill Dodd accuses him of having raped her at home in the early 1980s. Like agents Claude Haddad and Jean-Luc Brunel, Gérald Marie often lodges the most promising models when they arrive in Paris.
It is also in her apartment that Carré Otis-Sutton claims to have been raped by the French when she was 17, one night when Linda Evangelista was traveling.
Carré Otis in 1989 in the film "Wild Orchid" and in 2019. - Sipa / Carré Otis
The Swedish Ebba Karlsson, who had testified for
20 Minutes
in January 2020, says she suffered digital penetration during a casting with Gerald Marie in the early 1990s. A corroborated account of her ex-boyfriend, to whom she had confided at the time.
Ebba Karlsson in the 1990s and in 2019. - Ebba Karlsson
BBC Hidden Camera Report
Gerald Marie's career was not far from imploding in 1999. It was this year that the BBC broadcast a hidden camera report on the Elite agency.
We see in particular the French agent offering the equivalent of 600 euros to Lisa Brinkworth, an undercover journalist who poses as a former model, to sleep with her.
And, with the approach of the Elite Model Look competition, in which young girls on average 15 years old participate, he tells reporter Donal MacIntyre, who has won his trust, of his intention to take "the top 15" candidates on a boat: “Everyone is leaving, and then it's just us and them, aaah.
"
From the book "MacIntyre Undercover" by journalist Donal MacIntyre.
- BBC Books
Finally, the sea trip does not take place.
After the broadcast, Elite sued the BBC for libel.
It is especially the editing at the expense of the producers that is criticized.
Elite and the British channel end up reaching an amicable agreement.
First suspended, Gérald Marie returned to his post.
It is precisely Lisa Brinkworth who is filing a complaint today.
She claims that the French agent sexually assaulted her during the filming of the investigation on October 5, 1998. According to her testimony, the agent sat on top of her and faked a sexual act, erect, while she was struggling.
Her lawyer, Anne-Claire Le Jeune, believes that the pressures that the journalist says she has been subjected to by the BBC not to denounce the facts at the time could render the statute of limitations null and void.
Above all, she hopes that the complaint and reports filed this week will encourage other victims to speak up in turn.
British journalist Lisa Brinkworth in 1998 and today.
- Lisa Brinkworth
"We are men, we have our needs"
After leaving Elite in the early 2010s, Gérald Marie joined the Parisian agency Oui Management in 2012. The company's articles of association show that he is today the owner.
Still active, it now seems to flee the spotlight.
But we still sometimes see him at social events in Paris, as in the photo illustrating this article, provided to
20 Minutes
, which dates from January 2019.
The former boss of the Elite Europe modeling agency, Gerald Marie, in January 2019. - Photo provided to 20 Minutes
The accusations that resurface today do not surprise Marie Anderson.
Vice-president of Elite Chicago in the 1980s, she told
20 Minutes that
she warned young girls sent to Paris against Gerald Marie.
According to her, the conduct of the leaders of Elite had made waves internally.
She claims to have attended an argument in Ibiza between John Casablancas, Gérald Marie and two executives of the agency, Lisa Herzog and Trudi Tapscott.
“They were in tears and begged them to stop sleeping with minors.
The two men then laugh at their American Puritanism.
They explain to them that the age of consent is 15 in most European countries.
According to Marie Anderson, Gérald Marie concludes as follows: “We are men, we have our needs.
"
Justice
Gérald Marie, the former boss of the Elite modeling agency, targeted by rape accusations
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