French rapper Booba was questioned by an investigating judge in Paris on Monday and charged with cyberharassment against Magali Berdah, head of a famous agency that manages the careers of influencers on the Internet.
He defends himself and presents himself as a “whistleblower” against those he calls “influencers”.
Booba, 46, has been charged with serious online harassment and placed under judicial supervision, sources familiar with the case told AFP, which was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
These charges follow complaints from Magali Berdah, a 41-year-old businesswoman and founder of Shauna Events, an agency specializing in relationships between television personalities and brands.
“This decision, which has been expected for months, is a great victory for Magali Berdah,” her lawyers reacted in a press release sent to AFP.
In addition to the investigation against Booba, 28 people will be tried in Paris between November and January for serious cyberstalking, death threats or even threatening to commit a crime against Magali Berdah.
They are accused of sending messages on social networks such as “We will burn you”, “Die, bitch” or even “I will rape you, bitch”.
As for Booba, the rapper assured in a video broadcast on Monday after leaving the courtroom: “Everything was fine.” “As you see, I’m free, everything is fine. Piracy is never over.”
Booba, together with a collective that “helps victims of influencers”, has launched a crusade against those he calls “influvoleurs” and denounced several scams against internet users.
The crime of cyberharassment was created by a 2018 law. It can occur when several people attacking the same victim know that their words or behavior constitute a repetition, without each of these people having acted repeatedly or in concert.