A Dutch court today rejected a request by the famous Frenchman author Michel Welbeck to ban a film labeled “porn” in which he plays, claiming that it can damage his image. In the trailer of the movie “Kirac 27”directed by the Dutch collective KIRAC (Keeping It Real Art Critics), the writer he is seen shirtless kissing a girl in bed. Welbeck feels that showing the film online could damage his reputation as he is portrayed as “porn star».
The court “refuses the requested injunctive relief and orders Welbeck to pay the costs of the proceedings which are estimated to date at 1,393 euros,” said the judge in Amsterdam responsible for the interim measures.
“It is incomprehensible how Welbeck participated in the filming if he considered the contract indeed problematic“, he explains in a written decision as relayed by the Athens News Agency.
The judge rejected Welbeck’s assurances, according to which he had signed the contract because he was depressed and had been drinking. The author called the decision “very disappointing” and “is seriously considering” the possibility of him appealing, his Dutch lawyer Jacqueline Schaap told AFP.
It all started at a dinner in Paris in November 2022, when the author’s wife, Lysis, told Dutch director Stefan Rytenbeek that her husband would like to make a porn film to combat his impotenceaccording to the court order.
Reitenbeek then filmed Welbeck in Paris sleeping with one of the director’s collaborators, Ginnie van Rooyen, a philosophy student.
The writer and his wife then went to Amsterdam in December where they signed a contract for the film. “I told him that I knew many girls in Amsterdam ready to have sex with a famous author out of curiosityand that I would close his hotel if I had permission to film everything,” Reitenbeek states.
The Dutch judge ruled that while the contract “was anything but balanced”
But Welbeck said in court documents seen by AFP that the contract put him “at mercy” of Reitenbeek. On the day of the signing “I was tired, the day was long and I had already drunk the necessary wine”, the author states in these documents. “I don’t aspire to be a porn star at my age,” she added. Relations between the two sides broke down shortly after filming and worsened after the trailer was released.
The 67-year-old author complained that Rytenbeck gave an interview to the news website Vice in February in which he said Welbeck was “really good in bed.”
The Dutch judge ruled that while the contract “was anything but balanced” and granted the director extensive rights, it was not illegal.
The evidence was “insufficient to suggest that (Mr Welbeck’s) judgment was affected by fatigue and alcohol” or depression, the ruling said.
“I always intended to do a full portrait. I hope Michel will be happy with the result.” the director said with satisfaction in a statement released by his lawyer. In February, Welbeck lost a similar trial in a French court.
Source: News Beast
With 6 years of experience, I bring to the table captivating and informative writing in the world news category. My expertise covers a range of industries, including tourism, technology, forex and stocks. From brief social media posts to in-depth articles, I am dedicated to creating compelling content for various platforms.
