The Cesar Awards, France’s version of the Oscars, has barred anyone being investigated for sexual misconduct from its glitzy Paris ceremony.
The decision by the organisers comes after protests broke out at the event last year over the latest #MeToo furore involving newcomer Sofiane Bennacer, who is being investigated by police on two allegations of rape and one of violence against a partner.
Bennacer, 25, who denies any wrongdoing, had been seen as an awards frontrunner for his part in ‘Les Amandiers’ (titled ‘Forever Young’ abroad) about a sexually promiscuous group of drama students in the 1980s.
In a statement, the Academy said anyone facing a potential prison sentence for ‘violence, notably of (a) sexual or sexist nature’ would be excluded from the coming ceremony.
Bennacer was dropped from the longlist of possible nominees in November after fresh allegations surfaced in the media.
The Cesar Academy said it was still debating whether people with sexual misconduct allegations and convictions should be banned entirely from future nominations and awards, with a decision due in the coming weeks.