In an open letter published in  Liberation newspaper, French actor Adèle Haenel spurned the local industry’s complacency when it came to sexual aggressors. She also explained the reason for her retirment in 2020, stating it was a political act.

In 2020, at the Cesear Awards Ceremony, Haenel shouted “Bravo pedophilia” in anger after Roman Polanski won best director. Months before that, Haenel accused Christophe Ruggia of allegedly sexually harassing her for years starting when she was 12, prompting the birth of Frances #MeToo movement according to Variety.

Following her exit from the film industry, Haenel involved herself in political activism, theater, and dance. “I’ve decided to politicize my retreat from the film industry to denounce its generalized complacency toward sexual aggressors,” Hanel’s words were translated from French into English (Via Variety).

She referenced actor Gérald Depardieu who was recently reported to be facing sexually inappropriate behavior allegations from 13 different women.

“Meanwhile they all join hands to save the face of Depardieu, Pokanski and Boutonnat. It unnerves them and disturbs them that victims make too much noise; they would prefer it if we continued to disappear and die in silence. They’re ready to do anything to defend their rapist chiefs, those who are so rich that they believe they belong to a superior species, those who make a show of this superiority by… objectifying women and subordinates.”

“I have no other weapon than my body and my integrity. Cancel culture in the primary sense: you have the money, the strength and the money, you bask in it, but you won’t have me as your spectator. I cancel you from my world. I depart, I go on strike, I join my comrades, whose quest for meaning and dignity rules over that of money and power.”

Excerpts taken from Variety and translated from French.