As the hashtag #MeToo continues to generate discussions about harassment and sexual misconduct, several people are now pointing fingers at a prominent Quebec radio and TV personality.
On Wednesday, La Presse reported on several instances of lewd, inappropriate and harassing behavior involving Éric Salvail, dating back 15 years.
A total of 11 people told their stories to the online newspaper — all but one of them requested anonymity.
Make-up artist Marco Berardini told La Presse he met Salvail in 2003 at a professional event. He says he had refused Salvail's explicit advances several times as he was driving him home from the event. Berardini said that Salvail was suggesting they would make "a good couple", just moments after they had met.
Later, at another meeting, Berardini said Salvail stripped down to a pair of short shorts, and then, to a g-string which, according to the report, "left nothing to the imagination".
The other incidents apparently stretch from 2000 to 2015.
A few hours after the report was published, Salvail responded to the piece on Facebook — saying he was "deeply shaken" by it, and added, "I'm approaching this situation with a great deal of empathy toward anyone I could have caused harm to. I never meant to hurt anyone."
He added that he is taking a break from work for "a few days" from his radio show on Rouge FM, and his TV show on the V network.