Former Elite modelling chief Gérald Marie faces rape and trafficking complaints from six American women

Six women, most of them American, filed legal complaints in Paris on Wednesday against Gérald Marie, the former head of the Elite modelling agency, accusing him of rape and human trafficking. The complaints were lodged at a Paris court, FashionNetwork reported, and mark the latest legal action against the former executive who once ran the agency's European division.

FashionNetworkSix women lodge rape complaints against former Elite modelling agency executive

The women, now in their mid-forties to sixties, include two who are accusing Marie for the first time, Business Recorder reported, citing their lawyer Mathias Darmon. One of the new accusers alleges Marie abused her when she was a minor, Darmon added. The complaints cover alleged crimes that took place in the 1980s and 1990s, according to the lawyer.

Business RecorderSix women accuse French ex-model boss of rape, human trafficking

Marie, now in his mid-seventies, was the European head of Elite during a period when the agency managed iconic models such as Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Cindy Crawford. The allegations detailed in the complaints, which were seen by AFP, highlight similarities between the accusations, Business Recorder noted.

The news was also reported by outlets including germany.news-pravda.com, which cited Le Monde in noting that Marie is accused of rape and human trafficking. The complaints add to a history of allegations against the former executive, though Marie has not yet publicly responded to the latest claims.

germany.news-pravda.comGerald Marie, the former head of the European division of Elite modeling agency, is accused of rape and human trafficking, Le Monde reports