French actor Adèle Haenel reveals she was sexually harassed as a teen

Award-winning actor Adèle Haenel recently opened up about being sexually harassed as a young teenager by the director of her first movie. She spoke about her alleged abuse after watching the documentary Leaving Neverland. In an interview with an international media house, she says that the movie which explored Michael Jackson's relationship with kids changed her perspective and made her understand the mechanism of control and fascination. Her allegations have shocked the French film industry.

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Abused by director

The actor says that she was only 12 when she starred in Ruggia's film Les Diables. According to an independent French online investigative agency, Ruggia developed an obsession with Haenel. The 30-year-old actor reportedly says that Ruggia invited her to his home and tried to touch her and kiss her. She further says that at 15 she tried to cut off links with the director and sought help from people but not many showed sympathy towards her. The actor has, however, not filed a judicial complaint as she claims that she does not trust the judicial system of France. The public prosecutor has still opened an investigation into sexual aggression on a minor carried out by someone in authority on the basis of her public testimony. Ruggia has although denied all the sexual molestation charges but had admitted of having made errors in his conduct towards the actor. 

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Pfeiffer opens up 

Recently another American actor and producer Michelle Pfeiffer recently reflected on her #MeToo story with an incident that took place early in career when she was starting out as a 20-year old. Pfeiffer said that she once had an “inappropriate” moment which was one among many with a “high powered” person in the industry. The veteran actor also confessed that like every woman, she too went through a process of “self-blame”. Earlier in the wave of #MeToo movement, she thought that her experience was not anything of that sort.

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(With agency inputs)