Gilbert Rozon expresses remorse for entering guilty plea in 1998

In the Dock Again: Gilbert Rozon Voices Regret Over 1998 Guilty Plea

Stepping into the witness box for a second time during his civil trial, Gilbert Rozon lamented his decision to plead guilty to a sexual assault charge in 1998, an incident dating back to a party at the Manoir Rouville-Campbell. A waitress aged 19 had accused him, with charges of sexual assault, unlawful confinement, and assault leveled against him by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.

During the current trial, this contentious matter was raised and discussed by witnesses. Before Judge Chantal Tremblay of the Superior Court, Rozon asserted that his guilty plea was a result of pressure from his team to safeguard Juste pour rire and its employees' jobs. The accusations had plunged him into a "media hell," he shared, causing a severe financial strain due to the company's mounting losses of tens of thousands of dollars each day.

"I wanted to tell my story in court," Rozon said, but at a family meeting, his siblings urged him to plead guilty – a claim corroborated by none other than Luce Rozon herself during the trial. He agreed to make the plea, with the other charges dropped, and was given an absolute discharge. Ruzon added that the reality of the situation that transpired paled in comparison to the publicized narrative, without providing additional details.

"For a long time, I held a grudge against those who told me to do this. I felt like I was betraying my convictions, my principles." At 70 years old, Rozon is now being sued for damages totaling $14 million by nine women, who accuse him of sexual misconduct. He has refuted all their allegations but has yet to discuss the specific acts they accuse him of in his testimony.

"I've publicly declared that I'm a 'womanizer.' I've never denied it." When asked to clarify his statement, he replied that he has always sought the company of women, for conversation and their presence. Rozon has given women a significant role in the senior management across various branches of Juste pour rire, much like his right-hand woman, Guylaine Lalonde.

Rozon also shared insights about his separation from his wife, Danielle Roy, expressing himself as frivolous, fickle, and libertine. Afterward, he found a new love with Véronique Moreau, albeit a turbulent one due to timing complications. Rozon has multiple children, and he feared being a poor father. Despite all this, "I still have this feeling of being a sinner, even in this modern era. I believe the sin still resides deep within all our minds."

Rozon is currently married to a French comedian, with whom he wed following a long-term intellectual and friendly courtship.

Additional Insights: Gilbert Rozon's Professional Journey - Rozon's career highlights include the creation and expansion of Just for Laughs, the launch of various shows, and his role as a jury member for La France a un incroyable talent in France. Rozon has had a significant impact on the comedy industry, both in Canada and abroad.
Background Info: #MeToo Movement and the Impact on Gilbert Rozon - The #MeToo movement, which began in 2017, brought renewed scrutiny to Rozon and his past allegations of sexual assault. The movement played a significant role in Rozon's eventual resignation from his position at Just for Laughs, as well as his subsequent civil trial.

Celebrities like Gilbert Rozon often find themselves at the crossroads of general-news and crime-and-justice, as his current trial for sexual misconduct allegations illustrates. In the entertainment industry, the stakes can be high, with careers and reputations at risk, as seen in Rozon's case where he felt pressured to plead guilty in 1998 to safeguard his comedy festival, Juste pour rire.