Bad times for Nawell Madani. An investigation has been opened against the Belgian comedian, actress, and director for violence against a child under the age of 15. The incident took place Monday evening on the Champs-Élysées. She kicked a six-year-old child in the chest.
Two versions of the story conflict. Nawell Madani, who spontaneously presented herself at the police station, told the police that she “was approached by children, was afraid of being robbed, and hit a child.” This is also explained by her lawyer, who sent a statement to DH. “My client is deeply affected by what happened and wishes to express her sadness for the child and her family. She describes having a defensive reflex in the face of a situation she perceived as dangerous, while it was around 11:30 p.m., as she was walking alone in the street, avoiding turning around to face the individuals who were following her for several dozen meters.” “Panicked, she wanted to protect herself when she felt someone approach her bag,” the statement reads. “On the scene, the situation having become too tense for any explanation, she immediately went to a police station to report the events.” […] My client has fully cooperated with the police services so that the ongoing judicial investigation allows the facts to be established with precision beyond the interpretations and images relayed.
Accused of assaulting a 6-year-old child, Nawell Madani reacts and explains herself
“A huge kick in the chest”
The father’s version, which he spoke to Le Parisien, is different. According to him, he and his four children were talking to a local resident who greeted the Belgian comedian who was passing by because he had previously worked for her. The children asked if she was famous and asked their father’s permission to take a photo with her, something they usually do with celebrities.
According to the father, her three eldest children arrived near Nawell Madani, who angrily rebuffed them. The fourth, who did not stop, allegedly wanted to pet the dog that the comedian was carrying in her bag. “She turned around and gave him a huge kick in the chest. The kid flew and crashed to the ground ,” explained the person who was talking to the children’s father and who filmed the rest of the altercation while the Belgian woman did the same.
The child was taken to the hospital, shocked but with no apparent injuries. Nawell Madani said she was relieved that he was okay. However, the father filed a complaint against her.
Nawell Madani accused of assaulting a child: here’s what the comedian risks in court
Relatives and ex-relatives criticize
DH contacted several of the Belgian artist’s close friends and former collaborators to understand how this situation could have arisen. Some agreed to speak, but only on condition of anonymity. ” The list of people who have had problems with her is long,” we were assured. “She’s not a good person, she’s fake, and I have no sympathy for her,” we also heard about the woman who had already been the subject of a Mediapart investigation related to her Netflix series, ” So Far, So Good.” Nawell Madani had been criticized for her attitude on set. “She’s an angry person. She already mistreated her dancers at the beginning of her career. She takes them and throws them around like shit.”
“She is the opposite of what people say.”
Other people contacted were more measured in the face of this affair. “We know her… She has too much character and, sometimes, she gets lost”; “She is a very nervous girl but not violent”; “Knowing Nawell, who is the mother of a child of the same age and involved in numerous children’s associations, I find it hard to believe that she did this… If she struck out of turn, it was because she was seized by panic .” Or again: “I have never had a single problem with her, she has always been kind.”
A close friend even has the impression that every time the Belgian comedian undertakes a new project – in this case a new tour – “they attack her and look for things against her.” “She’s the opposite of what people say about her. She’s a loudmouth, yes, but she’s not aggressive.”
What are the consequences for his career?
What about Nawell Madani’s artistic future after these events? Press officers, managers, and producers seem to be on the same wavelength: “This won’t ruin his career, but it could still be detrimental to him”; “This isn’t the first time that some people have been accused of assault, and it hasn’t affected their capacity for sold-out venues.” Or again: “People (François Bayrou, Editor’s note) have indeed become Prime Minister after giving someone a slap!”
“You have to stay calm, human and not be mean.”
Still on condition of anonymity, a personality close to the comedian reacted to the events that took place on the Champs-Élysées. “What happened is sad,” she told us. “Two minutes of blabbering is better than a kick.” For her part, one thing is certain: she wouldn’t have reacted like that, whatever happened. “Generally, people are nice, friendly, and things go pretty well. When they get annoying, you just tell them, ‘I don’t have time.’ You just have to take the time to talk to people and say, ‘Sorry, but I’m busy right now.’ You take your picture and then you leave.”
Here’s how to react to persistent fans or if you’re having a bad day, explains our source. “You just shouldn’t deny them, that’s all. They’re people who love you, so it’s normal for them to be overexcited. They see you on TV, so they love you, they’re happy to see you in real life and want to touch you. You have to stay calm, human, and not be mean, even if they sometimes behave disproportionately when they see you. And above all, it’s not their fault if we’re not well or if it’s not the right time to approach us.”
