French singer pulls out of festivals amid protests
PARIS — French rock musician Bertrand Cantat, who was convicted of killing his actress girlfriend 15 years ago, has pulled out of all the festivals he was scheduled to appear in this summer amid a growing wave of protests.
The 54-year-old Cantat, the leader of former rock band Noir Desir, released a solo album last year and recently started touring. After several dates were cancelled by organizers following complaints from women’s groups and individuals, Cantat said he took the decision “to put an end to all polemics.”
Cantat was sentenced to eight years in prison and served four after beating to death Marie Trintignant in 2003 during a dispute in a hotel room in Lithuania, where she was making a film.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Cantat reiterated his “utmost sincere, profound and total compassion to the family and close friends of Marie,” but also insisted that he has “paid his debt.”