Rapper Naps has been sentenced to seven years in prison with an immediate detention order following a trial for rape, according to multiple reports. The verdict was delivered on February 19, 2026, bringing a conclusion to a case that has gripped France.
The case centers around an incident that occurred on October 1, 2021, in room 436 of a Paris hotel. The prosecution had requested a seven-year prison sentence for the artist, Nabil Boukhobza, whose stage name is Naps. The rapper maintained that any sexual contact was consensual, stating, “une jeune femme ne peut que consentir à un rapport sexuel avec lui,” according to Le Monde.
The trial began on February 16, 2026, and focused heavily on conflicting accounts of the night in question. The prosecution presented evidence suggesting a non-consensual encounter, while the defense argued inconsistencies in the testimony of the alleged victim and her friends, as reported by Le Monde.
According to reports from Le Chérepublicain and France24, the events unfolded after Naps met the alleged victim, identified as Fanny (a pseudonym), and two of her friends, Céline and Léa, at a Paris nightclub. The group then went to the Mercure hotel near Gare de Lyon. Before entering room 436, the women were reportedly asked to hand over their phones to the rapper’s cousin, allegedly to protect his privacy.
Fanny claims she fell asleep in the hotel room and was then penetrated by Naps. The artist acknowledges a sexual encounter but insists it was consensual. The differing accounts of the night have been central to the case, with the courtroom witnessing emotional testimony from all parties involved, as detailed in a report by BFM TV. The sentencing marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation surrounding consent and accountability within the entertainment industry.
The immediate detention order means Naps will start serving his sentence immediately. Public.fr explains what the detention order entails.
