Belgian Authorities Launch Sexual Assault Investigation Into Patrick Bruel
French singer and actor Patrick Bruel is facing latest legal challenges in Belgium. On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the Brussels prosecutor’s office announced that a judicial investigation into sexual assault has been opened against the star.
The investigation follows a complaint filed in late March by a Belgian press officer. According to reports, the complainant alleges that the assault took place in 2010 within the offices of the Belgian public broadcaster, RTBF. While she had filed a complaint shortly after the incident occurred, she had previously withdrawn it.
The decision to refile the complaint on March 24, 2026, came after Mediapart published reports on March 18 featuring testimonies from eight women regarding Bruel’s behavior between 1992, and 2019. One of the press officers involved, Karine Viseur, confirmed on March 26 via RTL that she had filed a complaint against the singer.
This development adds to a growing wave of accusations against the entertainer. The legal scrutiny highlights the increasing industry-wide impact of testimonies regarding historical misconduct in the entertainment world.
Bruel’s legal team has denied the allegations. In March, his lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, stated that the singer is presumed innocent and asserted that Bruel “n’a cherché à contraindre quiconque à un acte sexuel” (“did not seek to coerce anyone into a sexual act”).
Authorities in Brussels have confirmed that the investigation is currently ongoing.
