Caroline Darian Links Online Pornography to Gisèle Pelicot’s Abuse Case

Avignon, France – May 30, 2025 – Caroline Darian, daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, has publicly stated that online pornography played a significant role in the horrific abuse her mother endured, asserting that pornographic websites “favor abuses” by contributing to a culture of misogyny and violence. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys, Wales, on May 29, 2025, Darian argued that “there is no way” her mother would have been raped over 200 times without the influence of such platforms. Her remarks, reported by The Guardian, highlight her belief that pornography is “part of the system” perpetuating sexual violence, urging men to discuss its harms openly to break cycles of abuse.

Context of the Pelicot Case

Gisèle Pelicot, 72, survived nearly a decade of orchestrated rapes from 2011 to 2020, facilitated by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged her with sedatives and invited at least 72 men to their home in Mazan, France, to rape her while unconscious. The abuse, captured in over 20,000 images and videos labeled “abuses” on Dominique’s computer, came to light in September 2020 after his arrest for filming up women’s skirts in a supermarket. The trial, held in Avignon from September to December 2024, resulted in Dominique’s conviction and a 20-year sentence, with 50 other men also found guilty of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, receiving sentences from 3 to 15 years.

Gisèle waived her anonymity, insisting on a public trial to shift shame to her abusers and raise awareness about chemical submission—using drugs to facilitate sexual abuse. Her courage has made her a feminist icon, galvanizing discussions on sexual violence in France and beyond.

Darian’s Advocacy and Personal Allegations

Caroline Darian, 46, has become a vocal advocate for sexual assault survivors, founding the #MendorsPas campaign to combat chemical submission. Her memoir, I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again: Turning Our Family Trauma of Sexual Assault and Chemical Submission into a Collective Fight, details the family’s trauma and her suspicions that Dominique also drugged and abused her. Police found two photos on his computer of Darian unconscious in unfamiliar underwear, titled “my daughter naked,” leading her to believe she was raped, though Dominique denies this. In court, Darian stated, “I know you abused me,” but lacks video evidence like her mother’s case, describing herself as a “forgotten victim.”

At the Hay Festival, Darian connected her family’s ordeal to broader societal issues, arguing that online pornography normalizes violent fantasies, enabling men like her father to recruit accomplices online. She told the BBC, “The danger is coming from the inside,” emphasizing that abusers often exploit trusted relationships, as seen in her father’s use of family settings for abuse. X posts, such as @WomenReadWomen, echoed Darian’s concerns, noting that the 51 convicted men, including firefighters and plumbers, were “united by their obsession with fetishistic porn,” with Dominique possessing over 20,000 pornographic videos.

Broader Implications

Darian’s stance aligns with feminist critiques of pornography’s role in perpetuating sexual violence, though it has sparked debate. Supporters on X, like @peterjukes, cited her comments as evidence of porn’s harmful effects, while others, like @LailaMickelwait, noted that platforms like Pornhub previously hosted content similar to Gisèle’s abuse before removing 91% of their content under pressure. Critics argue that equating pornography with abuse oversimplifies complex social factors, but Darian’s advocacy underscores the need for education on chemical submission and consent.

Her campaign pushes for medical and societal awareness, noting that Gisèle’s symptoms—memory loss, hair loss, and gynaecological issues—were misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or stress, highlighting a gap in recognizing drug-facilitated abuse. Darian’s legal complaint against her father, filed in March 2025, seeks justice for her own suspected abuse, reinforcing her mission to amplify victims’ voices.

Darian’s work, inspired by her mother’s resilience, continues to challenge systemic issues, with her festival appearance amplifying the call to address pornography’s role in enabling abuse. The Pelicot case remains a stark reminder of the hidden dangers within trusted spaces, as Darian told The New York Times, “It’s an absolute tragedy.”