MONTRÉAL – Gilbert Rozon, the founder of Just for Laughs, testified on Wednesday during his civil trial for sexual assault and misconduct, admitting to having consensual relations with three out of the nine women suing him. The women are collectively seeking nearly $14 million in damages, alleging sexual abuse by Rozon.
This marked Rozon's third day of testimony as he began to address the allegations against him. In the case of Annick Charette, the only complainant whose case was previously tried in criminal court, Rozon stated that Charette initiated a sexual encounter with him. Charette has accused Rozon of raping her in 1980, a charge for which he was acquitted in 2020 on grounds of reasonable doubt.
Rozon's claims included asserting that he had the consent of two other complainants, who allege that he raped them. He firmly denied any connection with Guylaine Courcelles, a former Just for Laughs employee who accused him of sexual assault in 1987. Rozon characterized her testimony as “pure fabrication,” maintaining his previous denials regarding other allegations as well.
Earlier in the day, Rozon recounted the significant financial damage he sustained after rumors of sexual misconduct began circulating. He asserted that these rumors, before any official allegations emerged in October 2017, led to a staggering loss of $30 million for his company within just a few hours. He described the atmosphere at Just for Laughs as “cataclysmic” in the lead-up to an article that would later be published by Quebec newspaper Le Devoir and radio station 98.5 FM.
According to Rozon, the company, which he claimed was thriving, was on the brink of collapse as sponsors retracted their support and governmental subsidies were frozen, all triggered by rumors of impending revelations. He detailed how Québecor, a media giant, informed Just for Laughs of their decision to sever business ties, which jeopardized a significant five-year broadcasting deal valued at up to $20 million.
Rozon expressed that he felt as though “there was already a bonfire and I was already being burned.” He explained that due to the rapid capital outflow triggered by the rumors—estimated at around $30 million between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the day before the investigation went public—he feared bankruptcy. In a desperate attempt to salvage his company, Rozon claimed that he “would rather die personally than let the company die.” This required him to resign urgently, prepare an official statement for social media, and actively seek a buyer for Just for Laughs.
The damage extended beyond financial losses, as Rozon recalled a state of “carnage” surrounding him, with comedians distancing themselves from the Just for Laughs Festival to establish their parallel event. He revealed that the situation took a toll on his family, with his sons experiencing depression, colleagues suffering emotional distress, and tragically, his mother passing away within a few months of the turmoil.
During his testimony, Rozon also discussed aspects of his lifestyle, admitting to regularly consuming microdoses of ecstasy when faced with intense work periods to maintain his performance. His lawyer probed into a 1998 guilty plea he entered concerning an accusation of sexual assault, for which he was later granted an unconditional discharge. Rozon claimed that he was persuaded by family pressure to plead guilty, despite his version of events differing from the judicial facts acknowledged at that time.
This civil lawsuit forms part of an ongoing legal battle that once began as a class action but transitioned into individual suits following a 2020 Quebec Court of Appeal ruling. Throughout this process, numerous witnesses have testified, including the nine complainants and several other women who assert that they also suffered abuse at Rozon’s hands.
