Released on Wednesday, “PPDA le Prince Noir” looks back on the multiple accusations against Patrick Poivre d’Arvor. Written by journalist Romain Verley, the book was the subject of an interim appeal from an alleged victim of the former star presenter of TF1. She criticizes Romain Verley for revealing intimate extracts from his statement to the police.
“I don’t want to add suffering to suffering”. Journalist Romain Verley, author of PPDA, the Black Prince published on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 in Fayard editionsis accused by an alleged victim of the former star presenter of having revealed in his book intimate excerpts from his statement to the police.
Guest of daily podcast “Le Titre à la Une” by BFMTVthe journalist, who also signed a Additional investigation devoted to the numerous accusations against Patrick Poivre d’Arvorexplained to our microphone on this choice.
“In this book, I did not ‘out’ anyone, I did not ‘out’ any victim. The victims who are in my book spoke to me either to me or to the press in particular Release and Mediapart. […] Their words, their traumas, their recounted rapes have entered the public space,” he said.
“In my investigation I felt it was important to tell this ceremony,” he continued.
The journalist denies any “voyeurism”
In particular, the book includes excerpts from the depositions of several women recounting in detail their rape by PPDA. Details so far not relayed by the press. This is why one of the plaintiffs has launched a summary appeal against the book-investigation. According to our colleagues from Parisianthe Paris court was seized urgently for “invasion of privacy”.
“There is only one plaintiff, only one woman, who believes that this book did not have to tell the intimacy of the rape. She had said on the set of Mediapart that she had been raped in 1995 in the office of Patrick Poivre d’Arvor”, specified Romain Verley at the microphone of BFMTV.
“In my book, I tell the rape scene because – no voyeurism on my part – it is simply to tell the systemic, systematic, mechanical, industrial phenomenon of these invitations”, justified the journalist.
Anonymized testimony for future reprints
Justice finally decided Tuesday, February 8, the day before the publication of the book and authorized it, considering that “the major general interest” prevailed. “I don’t blame myself because justice has given us reason and considered that in the name of the public interest, the facts that I was telling were justified and necessary”, reacted Romain Verley to our microphone.
The journalist, who says “completely understands the suffering of this woman” who “had immeasurable courage to speak”, nevertheless made it known that he was going to make this testimony anonymous in the next reprints of his book.
“I modestly and sincerely hope that this book will contribute to the good knowledge of the public and perhaps to relaunch the PPDA affair. After my documentary, other women came to confide in me, I hope that this book will allow other women to come out of their silence,” added Romain Verley.
22 women have, to date, filed a complaint against Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, including 11 for rape.
