Journalist Marie Portolano Testifies in Defamation Trial Against Pierre Ménès
French journalist Marie Portolano testified in a Paris court during a defamation lawsuit filed by commentator Pierre Ménès, alleging non-consensual sexual touching during their time at Canal+.
French sports journalist and television presenter Marie Portolano testified in a Paris court during a defamation lawsuit filed against her by prominent football commentator Pierre Ménès. During the hearing, Portolano provided revealing testimony, alleging non-consensual sexual touching and inappropriate behavior by Ménès during their time working together at the Canal+ network.
"When I was pregnant, he checked every week to see if my breasts had grown," Portolano testified in the courtroom. "To me, he is a child who was never told what he is not allowed to do. He is guilty, but the real culprits are the people who allowed him to do it."
Portolano stated that Ménès touched her multiple times without her consent, including on her buttocks and breasts. She explained that his behavior forced her to adopt a planned "avoidance strategy" to keep her distance from him, and that she had directly and explicitly asked him to stop, though this did not lead to any change in his conduct.
The tense relationship between the two has been at the center of one of the most talked-about scandals in French television for years. Portolano previously revealed that in 2016, during the filming of the show "Canal Football Club," Ménès lifted her skirt in front of everyone on the set.
The affair gained widespread public attention in 2021 following a documentary she created about sexism in sports journalism. Following the documentary, Ménès apologized for some of his behavior but disputed the description of certain events.
The current legal battle was ignited by a book Portolano published in 2024, in which she raised additional allegations against him. Following the book's publication, Ménès filed the defamation lawsuit. The court's ruling on the defamation case is scheduled for November 4.
However, this will not end the legal battles between the two. On November 16, a completely separate proceeding is scheduled to take place in Nanterre, addressing Portolano's allegations that Ménès sexually assaulted her—claims that have not yet been decided by the court.
