Gilbert Rozon, the founder of Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival, has stood down from the organisation he led to be a global comedy brand in the wake of abuse allegations.
“Shaken by the allegations, I wish to devote my time to the point”, Rozon continued. “I especially don’t want their cast a shadow”, he explained by saying it was ” shocked by the allegations (the) regard to”, while apologizing to ” all those that I have offended in the course of my life”.
Rozon wrote that he was resigning “out of respect for the employees and the families that work for these organizations as well as all our partners”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about Rozon as he campaigned in Quebec on Thursday ahead of a federal byelection Monday.
Coderre said he’d let the judicial process play out, but that the pressure on the victims should be relieved. “And I think people are beginning to get it”. Nine women came forward with allegations.
Several women claim they were assaulted or harassed by Rozon, 62. “I had the strength to push him away, but not to go to the police”. For the moment, Gilbert Rozon has not yet reacted to this decision of the M6.
Some of the women even agreed to testify face-to-face, according to Le Devoir.
Salomé Corbo, who was just 14 when she was allegedly assaulted by Rozon at a film festival party, detailed him being drunk, forcing his hand into her panties and putting a finger into her vagina.
He reportedly tried to caress the woman and bring her back to his hotel room, but she fled and informed the venue’s managers of the incident.
Gilbert Rozon, that one has recently seen the opening of the new theatre, The 13th Art in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, announced that he was leaving “right now” president of the Just for laughs Group, commissioner for celebrations of Montréal’s 375th anniversary as well as vice-president of the board of trade of metropolitan Montreal.
Held every summer in Montreal, “Just for Laughs” is one of the largest worldwide comedy festivals and is a major tourist attraction for the city.