Former host of Dancing with the starsVincent Cerutti, 43, did not get good marks for his elegance on Tuesday, before the Paris criminal court. The man was on trial there for a complaint filed by a former collaborator of the Chérie FM morning show whose buttocks he allegedly bit twice, at their workplace.
“Every tight ass deserves its due”
a “game” established by the facilitator in the team
The facts allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2016 on the radio. Caroline Barel, a former switchboard operator, then accuses the host of having bitten her fleshy parts, without any consent, causing a hematoma in the process. She’s not the only one. Witnesses describe immature behavior and frequent inappropriate gestures from Vincent Cerruti who could confuse a relaxed atmosphere with inappropriate actions. According to them, 90% of the team would have dealt with him.
For his part, the accused at the hearing pleaded for a “good-natured” game, with a schoolboy tendency established in the team. Title
“Every tight ass deserves its due” this consisted of giving a slap on the butt or a bite every time a team member bent over.
A playground game “of which he is ashamed today”, he assures, but which did not involve any sexual intention according to his lawyer.
Aggression or inappropriate humor? What work psychology says
To understand the border between questionable humor and sexual assault, Ariane Bilheran, clinical psychologist, doctor in psychopathology and specialist in harassment, provided essential insight in a previous article.
- First of all, in an act of sexual harassment at work, inappropriate behavior is not limited to physical contact.
“The remarks are mainly of a degrading sexual nature. This can range from ambiguous compliments, on the legs, breasts, buttocks, to intrusive phrases about the sexual sphere, such as: ‘You, I’m going to put you under the desk’; - Heavy jokes are also on the program;
- On the gesture side: “This can range from an arm around the shoulder, to a hand on the hips, a pat on the buttocks, or a brush of the breast when passing files.” A bite to the buttocks falls into this register, especially without consent;
- The other characteristic is an insidious mechanism. Harassment rarely sets in suddenly: “It is based on a gradual habituation to violence. Little by little, the harasser tests whether the person is sufficiently vulnerable and whether those around them react or not.”
Ariane Bilheran recalls that this process creates a toxic atmosphere and that repetition reinforces the impact on the victim: “On a psychological level, it is a serious trauma.”
How to react to sexual harassment at work?
The psychologist recommends above all inner vigilance:
“To distinguish a professional remark from a sexual remark, pay attention to your inner feelings or discomfort.”
If discomfort is present, do not delay. Delayed awareness weakens the victim.
- Create a file of evidence. Keep a precise diary: facts, words, gestures. Rephrase by email what you experienced: “Today, the sentence you said (or the gesture performed) does not seem appropriate to me in a professional context.” ;
- Report internally. Occupational doctor, CHSCT, labor inspectorate, trade union organization… the more documented the report, the more solid it is;
- Get accompanied. The relationship with the company can be violent. Talk to your general practitioner, consult a specialist psychologist.
A matter far from trivial: what Vincent Cerutti risks today
If the host’s lawyer states that “nothing in the file indicates sexual intent”, the prosecutor does not agree: she considers the facts to clearly relate to sexual assault. She requested: 6 months suspended prison sentence, 10,000 euros fine, and 1 year of ineligibility, while the plaintiff is demanding 15,000 euros in damages. The judgment was reserved until February 4, 2026.
And the presenter risks this time… biting his fingers.