Linda Evangelista claims her ex-husband was abusive during 6 years of marriage: ‘He knew not to touch my face’
Model Linda Evangelista has accused her ex-husband of being abusive during their six years of marriage in a new documentary.
Evangelista was joined by Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington for the four-part AppleTV+ documentary, “The Super Models.” The series features each model’s journey in their career and personal life.
Evangelista opened up about her marriage to Gérald Marie, who formerly served as CEO of Elite Model Management’s Paris office. The couple met and married in 1987. Evangelista was 22 years old at the time and Marie was 15 years older. The couple separated six years later, in 1993.
“It’s easier said than done to leave an abusive relationship. I understand the concept because I’ve lived it,” Evangelista, now 58, said in the documentary. “It wasn’t just about saying, ‘I want a divorce, see you soon.’ It doesn’t work that way.
LINDA EVANGELISTA WANTED “A NORMAL EDUCATION” FOR HER SON, CONGRATULATES MOTHER-IN-LAW SALMA HAYEK
Gérald Marie and Linda Evangelista were married in 1987. (Getty Images)
“He knew not to touch my face, not to touch the one who made money, you know? I married him when I was 22 and I came out when I was 27. And he let me go out as long as he had everything,” she added. . “But I was safe and I regained my freedom.”
A lawyer for Marie told People magazine: “Gérald Marie strongly opposes the defamatory and false allegations made against him. He refuses to participate in this dishonest media controversy.”
Representatives for Evangelista and Marie did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Gérald Marie and Linda Evangelista divorced after six years of marriage. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
In addition to Evangelista’s abuse accusations, Marie has also been accused of rape and sexual assault by at least 15 women, according to People magazine. French prosecutors later closed an investigation due to the statute of limitations. All of the alleged incidents occurred in the 1980s or 1990s.
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“When I found out that he had hurt many, many, many women, that he had raped many women… it broke my heart,” Evangelista said, becoming emotional during the AppleTV+ documentary. “I never told my story because I was afraid.
“Through the power of all these women coming forward – bless them, God bless them all – it has given me the courage to speak out now.
“I would love to see justice. I wish assholes like this would think twice and be afraid. And I would like women to know that they are not alone.”
Gérald Marie was accused of rape and sexual assault, but authorities closed the investigation due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. (Stéphane Ruet/Sygma via Getty Images)
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Marie denied the allegations, saying he “never committed any act of violence,” People magazine reported. He said he had been presented by women “as the scapegoat for a system, for a now bygone era.”
Linda Evangelista shares a son with François-Henri Pinault, now married to Salma Hayek. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
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Evangelista evolved with French businessman François-Henri Pinault. Evangelista and Pinault welcomed a son, Augustin James Evangelista.
“Motherhood is my whole life now,” she said in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in 2013. “It’s the best. I’m so fulfilled.”
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