#metoothéâtre protestors demand change at the Comédie-Française

Protesters have called for deep rooted change at the Comédie-Française, the world's oldest running theatre company, to demonstrate against its inaction following allegations of assault by one of its actors, Nâzim Boudjenah.

Around 50 people on Wednesday night armed with slogans like “We're throwing the pigs away, you're fattening them up” and “No applause for violent men” were at the entrance of one of Paris’ most important theatres.

The demonstration was organised through #metoothéâtre in reaction to Nâzim Boudjenah – an actor at the Comédie-Française since 2010 – over accusations of his violent behaviour toward Marie Coquille-Chambel. In 2020, Boudjenah entered into a relationship with Coquille-Chambel.

Coquille-Chambel testified in court in 2021 that Boudjenah had become violent in the relationship and threatened to kill her. Boudjenah denied the accusations but was sentenced to six months in prison. He was later acquitted of the charges of violence due to procedural irregularities.

Boudjenah is currently still under investigation following an indictment by a judge on accusations of rape by Coquille-Chambel.

Following Coquille-Chambel’s accusations, the Comédie-Française immediately removed Boudjenah from the stage. “The Comédie-Française is deeply shocked by the discovery of the unbearable acts of violence attributed to one of its employees. It condemns them in the strongest possible terms and will take all necessary measures,” the theatre said in a press statement at the time.

However, the theatre didn’t also dismiss the actor immediately and maintained his salary. This is the basis for #metoothéâtre’s protest.

In a hearing on 13 January over Boudjenah’s dismissal, Sandrine Rousseau, MP and president of the commission on violence in the arts sector, reported that Boudjenah had made death threats against both Coquille-Chambel and herself.

Boudjenah made death threats against Rousseau after he became aware that the MP was informed of the death threats he’d made against Coquille-Chambel.

Comédie-Française managing director Eric Ruf was present at the hearing as the theatre was told to initiate dismissal proceedings against Boudjaneh.

#metoothéâtre posted a message on Instagram to explain the reason for their demonstration despite Boudjaneh’s imminent dismissal. “We can only welcome this decision which takes into account the violence of this man. However, we can only regret that the Comédie Française did not consider it necessary to do so after the conviction of its resident on June 29, 2021”.

“Boudjenah was condemned for such acts almost 4 years ago, is this not enough to consider that he cannot have the honour of sitting among the residents of this illustrious institution?” the account wrote. “We also regret that no media relays the information according to which Madame Coquille Chambel was forced on July 18, 2024 to file a complaint for new death threats and crimes on the social network X by Mr. Nâzim Boudjenah.”

Outside of the theatre, some of the employees registered their concern about the negative impact of the protest on the company. “This story has nothing to do with the Comédie-Française, it's something that happened outside, in a private setting. It's false to say that the house supports rape culture. It hurts us, it penalizes us and it's false,” a manager for 30 years told French daily newspaper Le Monde.

Originally, the Comédie-Française didn’t dismiss Boudjenah with this explanation: “In labour law, you need a real and serious reason to separate from someone. Here it was a conflict external to the company, not professional misconduct, we did not have the necessary elements,” echoing the sentiments of the frustrated manager.

It was Boudjenah’s death threats and derogatory remarks that put him over the threshold for harming the theatre, according to this month’s hearing. The latency and prioritising of the institution over the victim is the core of the group’s protest.

As actor and director Séphora Haymann said at the protest: “We can testify today that things are not changing. The victims’ words create a huge amount of declarative effects. But, in reality, there is no less violence. We have a collective responsibility: management, supervisory authorities, institutions have a responsibility. We must take action.”