The ex-mogul of humor Gilbert Rozon estimated that it was to take revenge and damage his reputation that two hosts would have defamed him on the air just before his trial.
• Read also: Libel lawsuit: Julie Snyder and Penelope McQuade lose a round
• Read also: The accused says she was inspired by the #MeToo movement
• Read also: Does Rozon regret the collective action?
“If Julie [Snyder] and Penelope [McQuade] claim to be judges and that they can condemn people in the media, it is their right. Is this the system we want? It’s something else, “said former businessman Gilbert Rozon during an interrogation last September.
The court document containing more than 500 pages of testimony was made public on Wednesday at the request of the hosts, who are trying to demonstrate in court of appeal that they face a gagging lawsuit from the ex-magnate of humor, acquitted of sexual assault.
The latter is claiming $450,000 from them for having publicly claimed to be his victims during a broadcast of The week of the 4 Juliesa few days before the start of his sexual assault trial.
“It’s a calculated move,” he said. What microphone do I have to go and fix what they said? »
Scythes and archifals
During his two days of sworn testimony from Europe, the 60-year-old denied the public allegations of those who came out in the various media to denounce him.
One of them, a comedian, had mentioned anonymously that he had found himself facing the flamboyant naked man, telling him that he wanted to “fuck” him.
“I would like that person to say so publicly that I prosecute him. Quite frankly, it’s big nonsense […] It is false and arch-false, ”reacted Gilbert Rozon in questioning.
About Julie Snyder, he described one-way communications, where the host only contacted him for favors, such as tickets.
But after telling him that she wouldn’t have a contract for the 375e anniversary of Montreal – a decision of the ex-mayor Denis Coderre according to him – their report would have been full-bodied.
“It was I, the messenger, who told her, then from that moment she was angry with me,” he said.
He presented a very different account of the evening to which the host would refer, suggesting that the latter would have invited herself to her apartment in Paris following a breakup to “get comfort”, even if they did not weren’t close.
“Collective madness”
In his opinion, he “embodies” the public figure most affected by the #MeToo denunciation movement, which he describes as “collective madness”.
“We are not far from the Middle Ages and putting people in the pillory, he compared. There was a kind of hunt, [beaucoup]were afraid of being denounced. Then once it’s done in the media, you’re destroyed. »
A class action for more than $10 million brought by a group of women fell through, but several of them are suing individually. These procedures are still ongoing.
– With Michael Nguyen
Excerpts from his testimony
« [Au début]I thought the allegations [c’était] that I had been a little “uncle” when I told a girl that I found her beautiful or things like that, because we know today that an assault is defined by a simple insistent look or looking at the a woman’s bodice. »
« [Julie Snyder et Penelope McQuade] knew exactly what they were doing and they know very, very well the impact it has. No one could claim otherwise. »
“Accusing someone in the media, we know full well that we will destroy him in a way almost more important than a court. Because it’s been around the world and it’s been scary the consequences for me. »
“In Quebec, you find denunciations en masse […] compared to France, which keeps, for the moment, a little embarrassment before leaving countless lists, to make accusations. […] Before destroying a career, one must assume [l’innocence]. »