Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and rape which some readers may find distressing.
Gisèle Pelicot, a survivor of a harrowing ordeal, has recently opened up about the challenges in her relationship with her daughter, which deteriorated after her husband and 50 other men were convicted of raping her while she was under the influence of drugs.
More than a year after the landmark trial in France, during which her numerous attackers were sentenced, Madame Pelicot has re-entered the public sphere through a series of interviews with global media outlets, revealing the profound impact the events have had on her personal and familial life.
This situation has affected her connection with her daughter, Caroline Darian. Caroline, like her mother, discovered that there were photos showing her in an unconscious and undressed state, which were in her father’s possession. The police uncovered these during an investigation following his arrest for an upskirting offense.
During the sentencing of her mother’s aggressors, Darian stated in court that she felt ‘a forgotten victim in this case,’ and subsequently pressed charges against her father, expressing to the BBC: “I know that he drugged me, probably for sexual abuse. But I don’t have any evidence.”
Despite these assertions, Pelicot has refuted her daughter’s claims. Darian alleged in late 2025 that her mother never believed her, leading to a breakdown in their communication.
In an earlier interview with the Telegraph, Darian expressed: “My mother let go of my hand in that courtroom. She abandoned me.
“For four years I accompanied my mum everywhere. I supported her without ever judging her. And it wasn’t always easy because she didn’t want to hear what I was telling her.”
The revelation of this family rift, exacerbated by the heinous acts of Dominique Pelicot, came as a shock to many, highlighting the discord between two of his victims.
In recent interviews preceding the release of her memoir, 73-year-old Gisèle has discussed her efforts to mend her relationship with her daughter following the trial’s strain.
In a conversation with the New Yorker, the French feminist icon shared insights into their evolving relationship. “I think we both needed to distance ourselves to perhaps heal in different ways,” she explained.
The mother and daughter have begun reconnecting, with daily phone calls, starting with a conversation during Christmas and another on Darian’s birthday.
Although her children have not yet read her memoir, it contains a partial acknowledgment of Darian’s allegations, with Gisèle describing the images her husband took as having an ‘unbearable incestuous gaze.’
The memoir also discusses the uncertainty Darian lives with, due to the lack of evidence about what Dominique may have done.
Gisèle also reflected on her defensive mindset during the trial, admitting, ‘I wanted to help her now, but I didn’t know what to do or how to reach her.’
She writes: “I embraced silence, she demanded noise.”
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Alternatively, you can chat online via online.rainn.org