Luc Besson abandoned by many people during the affair, he attacks the great cinema family and its "cowardice"

Luc Besson was among Léa Salamé’s guests this Saturday, September 23 on the set of What an era! broadcast on France 2. The director took advantage of his time on the show to return to the way in which the big cinema family had quickly let go of him during the Sand Van Roy affair.

After the failure of his film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Luc Besson’s life was turned upside down when Belgian-Dutch actress Sand Van Roy filed a complaint against him for sexual assault and rape. If the filmmaker admitted to having had an extramarital affair with the actress, who appeared in some of his films, he always denied the accusations against him. After years of legal proceedings, the Court of Cassation confirmed last June the dismissal pronounced by the Court of Appeal, thus dismissing the accusations of rape by actress Sand Van Roy against Luc Besson. A definitive victory for the director, who was still let go by the big cinema family.

“I don’t blame them“: Luc Besson violently let go by the great cinema family

After years of silence, Luc Besson accepted Léa Salamé’s invitation to promote his film DogMan on the set of What an era! this Saturday, September 23. On site, he obviously could not escape questions about the affair and its consequences. The director notably addressed the lack of support from the big cinema family, who quickly turned their backs on him after the accusations of rape and sexual assault made by actress Sand Van Roy. After ensuring that only “1 or 2%“of his cinema friends had supported him during this ordeal, Luc Besson indicated to Léa Salamé and Christophe Dechavanne that he was not angry with those who had made the decision to move away.”It doesn’t matter, I don’t blame them at all“, declared the director, who then specified that many of his friends were back today after the courts delivered their verdict.

Luc Besson speaks candidly about the impact the scandal had on his children

During the evening, the director also returned to the impact that this scandal had on his family, particularly on his children. “I think this is the hardest moment of my life: sitting at a table with your wife and children and telling the truth“, he assured. “At that moment, I destroyed their image of love and it hurt me very, very badly because it was my responsibility. I regret so much for destroying this love in them. That’s what hurt me the most“, he continued, overcome by emotion.

Article written in collaboration with 6Médias