“Ibrahim Maalouf's presence was becoming more and more problematic”: trumpeter removed from Deauville festival jury

The new director of the Deauville American Film Festival, Aude Hesbert, announced in La Tribune on Sunday that trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf is no longer part of the jury, due to a “une malaise in the team” related to the #MeToo wave.

“It is not up to me to judge, punish or condemn, but the presence of Ibrahim Maalouf was becoming more and more problematic for the smooth, serene running of a festival that is celebrating its 50th anniversary, which is also my first edition and that I want to carry with clarity and transparency”, she declared in an interview with the newspaper, before this edition from September 6 to 15.

Ibrahim Maalouf had been accused several years ago of sexual assault on a minor, a case in which he was acquitted in 2020.

“The festival of Deauville sacrifices an innocent on the altar of the supreme principle the show must go on' for commercial interests", regretted her lawyer, Me Fanny Colin, in a message sent to AFP Saturday evening.

"The festival asked Ibrahim Maalouf to 'withdraw discreetly', which he obviously refused", she added. "This is to omit in fact that, having been acquitted and publicly recognized as innocent, it is just as publicly and in court that he will fight this unjust and dishonoring eviction for its authors".

"A difficult decision"

Aude Hesbert reports that'"when the jury's composition was announced on August 8, there were many reactions on social networks and in the media, a malaise settled in the team, already bruised by the previous case".

She has in fact succeeded Bruno Barde as head of the festival, who has stepped back after accusations of sexual assault in Mediapart.

She has "taken the difficult decision", which she "will assume until the end, to exclude Ibrahim Maalouf from the jury".

The director indicates that she will “extend (the) work on cinephilia” led by Bruno Barde, “while bringing (its) DNA as well as a new form of governance”.

“At the beginning of the festival, we will publish a charter against sexist and sexual violence to avoid all abuses of power, even beyond MeToo. We will be extremely vigilant on these subjects in the future”, she promises