French actor Theo Navarro-Musi has been removed from this year’s Cannes Film Festival after being accused of sexual assault. He played a supporting role in director Dominique Malle’s film ‘Dossier 137’.
Before the festival began, the festival’s secretary general, Thierry Fremaux, agreed with the film’s production team and decided to prevent Theo Navarro-Musi from participating in the red carpet. This is an unprecedented step in the history of the Cannes Film Festival.
It is known that three former partners filed lawsuits against Theo in 2018, 2019 and 2020, alleging rape, physical and psychological violence. After a long investigation, the case was dismissed in April 2025 due to lack of evidence.
However, the complainants have said that they are going to file a lawsuit again. This time in the form of a complaint in court on their own initiative (as a party civil).
The actor’s lawyer, May Puje-Gagliardi, said, “My client has not been legally convicted at this time and has not been informed of any ongoing proceedings against him.”
The Cannes festival recently introduced an ethical vigilance policy, which requires the production team of each film to ensure that safety, dignity and ethics are maintained during filming.
The festival’s secretary general, Thierry, said that since the case has been appealed and the judicial process is ongoing, we cannot consider it as definitively settled. When the judicial process is completed, the matter will be viewed differently.”
He added that another film personality has been accused, and that the festival authorities are also gathering information about that.
