Gisèle Pelicot Recounts 'Unthinkable' Crimes of Ex-Husband in First US Interview

Gisèle Pelicot has spoken publicly in her first interview with a US broadcaster about the crimes committed by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot.

The interview recently aired on CBS News, more than a year after Dominique's conviction in France for orchestrating prolonged sexual abuse against her.

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced in December 2024 by a criminal court in Avignon, southern France, after being found guilty of repeatedly drugging his wife and facilitating sexual assaults by dozens of men over nearly a decade. Prosecutors said the abuse occurred between 2011 and 2020 at the couple's home in Mazan.

The case drew international attention due to its scale and Gisèle Pelicot's decision to waive her anonymity during proceedings, stating during the trial that shame should rest with perpetrators rather than victims.

Conviction and Court Findings

French investigators uncovered the abuse in 2020 after examining digital material seized from Dominique Pelicot. Court findings stated that he had administered sedatives to his wife without her knowledge and recorded assaults while she was unconscious.

During the trial, which lasted several weeks in late 2024, prosecutors said dozens of men were identified and prosecuted alongside Pelicot. Many were convicted of aggravated rape and related offences. Dominique Pelicot received a 20-year prison sentence.

According to court findings reported by French and international media, Gisèle Pelicot was unaware of the assaults at the time they occurred and only learned of their extent when informed by police during the investigation.

The proceedings prompted wider debate in France over consent, drug-facilitated abuse and the role of digital evidence in prosecuting sexual violence cases.

First US Television Interview

In her interview with CBS News, Gisèle Pelicot described the crimes as 'unthinkable' and spoke about the personal impact of discovering what had happened.

'I never imagined that I was living with a man who was drugging his wife in his own home. It was impossible,' she told CBS.

She added: 'How can you imagine that your husband is drugging you? It's unthinkable — impossible. In fact, I was manipulated for about ten years. Because he was looking me in the eyes every day while knowing he was poisoning me. But I never saw that. I saw a kind, caring man.'

Preview excerpts released by CBS showed her reflecting on how the revelations altered her understanding of her marriage and family life. She also discussed her decision to appear publicly during the French trial rather than seek anonymity.

During court proceedings in 2024, Pelicot stated that she chose to forgo anonymity so that the case could highlight the realities of sexual violence. In the CBS interview, she reiterated that position, saying victims should not feel compelled to hide.

CBS described the interview as her first extended conversation with a US broadcaster since the verdict. The network said the discussion addressed accountability, recovery and the broader implications of the case.

Wider Legal and Social Impact

The Pelicot trial has been cited by women's rights groups as one of the most significant sexual violence cases in recent French history. Demonstrations were held outside the Avignon courthouse during proceedings, with campaigners calling for stronger protections against drug-facilitated abuse.

French law criminalises rape and aggravated rape, and the case renewed public discussion around consent standards and the legal treatment of chemical submission.

Dominique Pelicot remains in custody following his conviction. Any appeal would be handled under the French judicial system.

For Gisèle Pelicot, the CBS interview marks another public step in a case that has resonated far beyond France. Her remarks have been widely reported internationally, reflecting the continuing global attention surrounding the trial.