The woman behind France’s version of the #MeToo movement will appear in court in Paris Wednesday charged with defaming the man she accused of sexually harassing her in a tweet that inspired thousands of other women to do the same, reports FRANCE 24.
Sandra Muller, a New-York based French journalist, sent a tweet with the hashtag #BalanceTonPorc (squeal on your pig) on October 13, 2017 in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal, in which she accused French TV executive Éric Brion of making sexually explicit remarks to her.
“You have big breasts. You are my type of woman. I will make you orgasm all night,” Muller’s tweet quoted Brion as saying.
"#balancetonporc!! You too, share and give the name and details of any sexual harassment you have experienced in the workplace,” Muller tweeted.
Soon, social media was flooded with other women sharing similar stories under the hashtag. An English-language equivalent, #MeToo, went viral after American actress Alyssa Milano used it in a tweet two days after Muller made her online declaration.
Brion, who at the time he made the alleged comment to Muller was head of the Équidia television channel, had initially appeared contrite, admitting in an op-ed for France’s Le Monde newspaper he had made “inappropriate remarks to Sandra Muller” at a cocktail party.