- Linda Evangelista said in an AppleTV+ documentary that her relationship with Gérald Marie was "abusive."
- The supermodel was married to Marie, a former Elite Model Management executive, from 1987 to 1993.
Linda Evangelista said in a new documentary that her marriage to former Elite Model Management executive Gérald Marie was "abusive."
In an interview for a new AppleTV+ documentary, The Super Models, Evangelista opened up about the personal struggles she faced at the height of her career.
"I celebrate all the great things that we got to do, but it wasn't as glorious as one would think it was," Evangelista said, as clips of her and ex-husband Marie appeared on the screen.
"I learned that, maybe, I was in the wrong relationship," the 58-year-old added.
Evangelista married Marie in 1987 when she was 22 years old and he was 37, per The Evening Standard. Their marriage lasted until 1993.
"It's easier said than done to leave an abusive relationship, I understand that concept because I lived it," the supermodel said in the documentary. "If it was a matter of saying, 'I want a divorce, see you.' It doesn't work that way."
As old photos of the couple continued to appear on the screen, Evangelista elaborated on their tumultuous relationship.
"He knew not to touch my face. Not to touch the moneymaker, you know?" she said.
In September 2020, multiple women accused Marie of rape and sexual assault in incidents that date back to the '80s and '90s, The Times reported.
Some women who came forward include former models Carré Otis, who was previously married to actor Mickey Rourke, and Jill Dodd, who said she was part of a modeling agency where Marie had been the booking director, per The Times.
"It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time on the allegations of historic wrongdoing being made against me, other than to make it clear that I categorically deny them," Marie told The Times then.
In February 2023, French prosecutors closed the investigation into Marie due to the statute of limitations, per The Guardian.
For 25 years, Marie was the president of the European division of Elite Model Management, per The New York Times. During its peak, the agency represented some of the world's most famous models — including Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell.
"When I found out that he's hurt many, many, many women, he's violated many women, it broke my heart," Evangelista said in the documentary. "I never, never told my story because I feared. Thanks to the power of all these women coming forward. Bless them, God bless all of them. It gave me the courage, now, to speak."
In a statement sent to Insider, Marie's lawyer, Céline Bekerman, denied the allegations. "Gérald Marie firmly objects to the defamatory and false allegations made against him. He refuses to participate in this dishonest media controversy," Bekerman said.
Marie's lawyer also issued a similar statement to AppleTV+, adding that Marie "has never committed the slightest act of violence." The statement was broadcast in the same episode of the documentary.
"I would love that justice be served. I would love for assholes like that to think twice and be afraid. And I would love women to know that they're not alone," Evangelista added in the documentary.
Representatives for Evangelista did not respond to a request for comment sent by Insider outside of regular business hours.
September 22, 2023: This story has been updated with Bekerman's statement to Insider.