Gisele Pelicot Details the Agonizing Moment She Informed Her Children About Their Father's Heinous Crimes
Gisele Pelicot, a 73-year-old French woman, has publicly shared the devastating experience of revealing to her three children that their father, Dominique Pelicot, subjected her to nearly a decade of sexual violence. In a recent interview with BBC Newsnight, she described making three separate phone calls to her children—David, Caroline, and Florian—as the hardest task she has ever undertaken.
The Children's Heartbreaking Reactions to Their Father's Actions
Gisele recalled her daughter Caroline's immediate response upon learning the truth about her father's crimes. 'I heard my daughter scream. It was almost inhuman, that scream,' she said, emphasizing the shock and horror her children endured. Her eldest son, David, was left in a state of disbelief, while the youngest, Florian, quickly checked on his mother's well-being, asking how she was coping.
Gisele added: 'They realised I was alone, and that I might do something stupid. For them, too, it was like an explosion.' The day after these emotional conversations, her children traveled to Mazan to be with her, where they collectively destroyed or discarded any belongings, photographs, or furniture associated with their father in an effort to erase him from their lives.
A Public Trial and a Quest for Justice
Under French law, victims' names are typically kept confidential, but Gisele insisted on a public trial to expose her ex-husband and the approximately 50 men he allegedly recruited to rape her while she was unconscious. She allowed journalists to publish her full name and permitted the court to exhibit explicit videos recorded by her husband, showing men engaging in sexual acts with her without her consent.
Gisele explained her motivation: 'I have decided not to be ashamed, I have done nothing wrong. They are the ones who must be ashamed. I'm not expressing hatred or hate, but I am determined that things change in this society.' Her actions were taken in solidarity with other women who remain unrecognized as victims of sexual crimes.
The Horrifying Details of the Abuse
Dominique Pelicot was convicted in 2024 for repeatedly drugging and raping his wife over almost ten years. He used a now-defunct website called Coco to recruit men online, telling them he was 'looking for someone to abuse my sleeping, drugged wife.' To maintain her unconscious state, he crushed sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication into her food and drinks.
The case's horror is compounded by the fact that he easily found dozens of participants, aged 26 to 74, including professionals such as a nurse, journalist, prison warden, local councillor, soldier, lorry drivers, and farm workers. Gisele recounted freezing when a detective first showed her images of herself being assaulted while unconscious, stating, 'I don't recognise myself in those photos. I think my brain disassociated.'
Moving Forward and Seeking Closure
Despite the trauma, Gisele has found a new chapter in her life. Almost two years after her ex-husband's conviction, she revealed that she has met a man and fallen in love again, something she never thought possible. 'Meeting him was incredible. I met this man who's also been through difficult times, and it's changed our lives,' she shared.
However, she still seeks closure, expressing a desire to confront her ex-husband directly. 'I want to look him directly in the eye and ask him, 'Why did you do that?'' she said, highlighting her ongoing journey toward healing and justice in the aftermath of unspeakable crimes.
