Julie Ollivier, First to Accuse French Host Cauet of Rape, Dies at 28

Julie Ollivier, who became the first woman to file a legal complaint accusing French media personality Sébastien Cauet of sexual assault and rape, died by suicide on Monday at the age of 28. Her passing was announced to the public on Friday by the MeTooMedia association.

Ollivier initiated the high-profile legal case against the former television and radio host in November 2023. In her initial complaint, she stated that she had admired the entertainer and alleged that he had first raped her in Geneva in 2014 when she was 16 years old. She further reported additional incidents occurring through 2022.

Emmanuelle Dancourt, founder and president of the MeTooMedia association, expressed profound shock and grief over the tragedy. "We are devastated, we are in a state of shock," Dancourt stated, noting that Ollivier was an active member of the organization who regularly attended events and utilized its support networks. "She had the courage to denounce what she suffered and to carry her voice to the end," added her attorney, Helin Köse.

Following her initial accusations, several other women came forward with allegations against the broadcaster. Investigators subsequently charged Cauet in May 2024 with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault involving four different women, three of whom were minors at the time of the alleged offenses. He also faces charges regarding the corruption of minors related specifically to Ollivier.

Throughout the proceedings, the entertainer has consistently denied all accusations against him. Legal proceedings in Paris have continued over the past three years, with the judge in charge of the investigation conducting a formal interrogation of the accused in October 2026.

In the months leading up to her death, Ollivier faced additional legal battles. In July 2025, she filed complaints concerning cyberbullying, invasion of privacy, and violation of investigative secrecy, while the entertainer also brought separate legal actions against her for defamation, cyberbullying, and attempted extortion.

Despite her passing, Ollivier's family intends to see the legal process through. Her lawyer confirmed that her relatives have chosen to maintain the legal fight and will formally join the ongoing judicial information as civil parties, while requesting that the public respect their privacy during their mourning period.