Gisèle Pelicot, the 73-year-old French woman whose horrific case of spousal abuse shocked the world, has declared her intention to visit prison and look her ex-husband "straight in the eye" in a desperate search for answers. Pelicot stated she needs to confront Dominique Pelicot about two unresolved matters: the potential abuse of their daughter, Caroline Darian, and his possible involvement in the 1991 rape and murder of an estate agent, for which he remains under investigation.
A Conviction That Shocked France
In December 2024, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a French court after being found guilty of orchestrating a series of brutal attacks against his then-wife. The court heard how he drugged Gisèle Pelicot and invited dozens of men to rape and sexually assault her while she was unconscious. Police have identified approximately 50 perpetrators, though investigators believe at least 70 individuals were involved, with many remaining unidentified.
Family Fractures and Unanswered Questions
The revelations have torn the Pelicot family apart rather than bringing them together. Gisèle Pelicot described the impact as "an explosion that blows everything away," though she has been gradually rebuilding her relationship with her daughter, with whom she now speaks daily by phone.
The uncertainty surrounding whether Dominique Pelicot also abused their daughter has created what Gisèle calls "inescapable hell" for Caroline Darian. The discovery of two photographs showing Darian unconscious and wearing unfamiliar underwear raised alarming questions that remain unanswered. Darian had previously accused her mother of not believing her when these images first surfaced during the police investigation.
The Moment of Discovery
Gisèle Pelicot recounted the chilling moment in November 2020 when she learned the truth about her husband's crimes. Brought to a police station to discuss what she believed was an incident involving her husband filming up women's skirts, she noticed an officer's expression change as he pointed to a stack of files.
"He asked if I recognised myself in a photo of a woman being raped by a man I didn't know," Pelicot recalled. "And of course I didn't recognise myself, because I was with a man I didn't know, who was raping me."
The officer then showed her a second photograph, insisting: "That's you there. This is your room, Madame Pelicot, these are your bedside lamps. We searched your home, these are your belongings."
She was then informed that Dominique was in custody and that 53 people had been arrested. "He tells me that I have been raped about 200 times. I say: 'But that's not possible.' And then I ask for a glass of water because I can't talk any more."
Watching the Evidence
Later, Pelicot was forced to watch the videos documenting her assaults. "I'm a rag doll. It's as if I've come out of surgery, because I'm completely anaesthetised," she described. "These men, when you see what they're doing to me – how is it possible that my body couldn't feel anything? ... Fortunately for me, I have no memories, because I think I would have killed myself afterward."
She spoke of the profound shame that followed, spending "hours in the shower trying to wash away this filth, this dirt that makes you feel dehumanised." Specific physical evidence emerged during the investigation, including a crown on one of her teeth that came loose, which she later realized resulted from oral rape.
A Lack of Empathy
"When I discovered the videos showing the violence these men inflicted on me, in my limp mouth – they have to hold my head because my face is falling, I have no muscle tone – and Monsieur Pelicot doesn't even react," she said. "There is no empathy, no pity for this woman who is there, completely dead in her bed. It was incredibly violent to tell myself that even that, they didn't spare me."
Becoming a Symbol of Courage
During the trial, Gisèle Pelicot made the courageous decision to waive her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse, famously declaring: "The shame is theirs." Her bravery transformed her into a global feminist icon, with crowds gathering outside the courthouse each day to applaud her as she left proceedings.
Support poured in from prominent figures worldwide, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who thanked her for her "dignity and courage," and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. In a personal letter, Queen Camilla expressed her "heartfelt admiration for the courage, grace and dignity with which you have faced the horrific crimes committed against you."
Speaking to BBC Newsnight recently, Pelicot responded: "I felt moved and very honoured that she had become aware of what had happened to me. I am grateful to her."
Holding Out Hope
As she prepares for her prison visit, Gisèle Pelicot maintains a fragile hope that her ex-husband might finally provide some answers. "I hope that when we're face to face, he'll be able to tell me the truth, both about his daughter and about everything else he's now accused of," she said. "Maybe he'll have some remorse. I'm still holding on to that hope. Maybe I'm naive, maybe I won't get an answer."
Her journey from victim to advocate continues to inspire survivors worldwide, as she calls on others to "never have shame" and confront their abusers with the same determination she now demonstrates in seeking closure for herself and her family.
