Podcast Summary:

The Daily: ‘The Interview’: The Woman at the Center of the French Rape Trial That Shocked the World
Episode Date: February 14, 2026
Host: Lulu Garcia-Navarro, The New York Times
Guest: Giselle Pelicault
Topic: The story of Giselle Pelicault, survivor at the center of France’s largest-ever mass rape trial, her decision to waive her anonymity, and her life after discovering her husband was her abuser.

Episode Overview

This episode features an extended conversation between host Lulu Garcia-Navarro and Giselle Pelicault, who suffered years of sexual violence orchestrated by her husband, Dominique Pelicault. After Dominique's arrest triggered a massive investigation, Giselle discovered that she had been drugged and raped by at least 70 men over many years. In an act of courage, Giselle waived her right to anonymity during France's historic trial, becoming a national symbol and advocate for changing the country’s consent laws. This interview marks her first in-depth account for an American media outlet.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Life Before the Revelation

• Giselle’s Retirement and Happiness (03:41)

  • Describes herself as having "joie de vivre", enjoying family gatherings, and believing in a happy retirement.
  • Quote: “The Maison house was a place where we could have friends and their children over during the holidays. We always called it the House of Happiness.” (03:43)

• Early Relationship with Dominique (05:09)

  • Met at 19, both from complicated family backgrounds but in love—"Of course, it’s complicated now... but still I hold onto the good moments from that life." (06:41)

2. The Onset of Abuse and Isolation

• Blackouts and Medical Gaslighting (07:08–11:52)
  • First rape (2011) recalled only after being told by police; Initial sensations of unease ("What are you doing? Leave me alone.").
  • She describes unconsciously confronting Dominique—"Dumais, you’re not drugging me, are you?"—leading to his manipulative, tearful denial (08:14–08:57).
  • Multiple incorrect medical diagnoses, growing dependency, and isolation: “I trusted him so much that I couldn’t imagine that this man was manipulating me...” (12:17)

3. Realization and Police Revelation

• Husband’s Arrest and Unthinkable Discovery (13:01–19:47)
  • Shock when Dominique is first arrested for filming up women’s skirts, still unaware of deeper crimes.
  • Devastating police station sequence: Officer shows her photos and evidence; “That woman... had no soul, nothing. That woman wasn’t me. That’s probably what saved me...” (20:32)

4. Aftermath — Family Fallout and Internal Struggle

• Wave of Shame and Impact on Children (21:42–27:21)

  • “You feel dirty, you feel degraded. There’s nothing human about it. I spent hours... trying to wash away this filth...” (21:42)
  • Discovery of images of her daughter and daughters-in-law; family torn apart, especially affecting her daughter Caroline.

• Reconciling the Past (28:05)

  • “If the last 50 years of my life were taken away from me, it would be as if I had never existed, I would be dead.” (28:05)
  • Describes a process of “sorting things out”: keeping good memories, setting aside the bad.

5. The Trial — Courageous Transparency and Confrontation

• Waiving Anonymity (29:44–32:48)

  • Decision took four years; inspired by her daughter: “…to carry this shame with us adds insult to injury...” (30:18)
  • In court, she faced 51 defendants: “The defendants were staring... I told myself, hang in there. You’re going all the way...” (31:56)

• Confronting the Accused and Denial (33:02–35:44)

  • Did not know her rapists (“I was anesthetized, unconscious.”) and faced their denial even after being shown videos: “...what they were saying was that Monsieur Pelicault had been pressuring them... But... there is violence, sure, but they were the ones perpetrating it.” (34:02)

• The Burden and the Role of Evidence (36:35–41:57)

  • Watching the videos for legal proof: “You see the violence of these individuals. They’re animals, in fact, and you’re this disjointed, unconscious body...”
  • Without the videos, she feels she would not have been believed.

6. Public Reaction and Social Impact

• Women’s Support During Trial (43:25)

  • “I saw them every morning... waiting for the courthouse to open... Their presence outside the building softened what was happening for me inside...” (43:43)
  • Thousands of letters: “Now they were no longer afraid to [talk] as well...” (43:56)

• Sentencing and Justice (45:22–46:18)

  • Dominique sentenced to 20 years; others to varying terms. “What mattered to me was that they had been found guilty, which is why I did not contest their sentences.” (45:37)

7. Living with the Unconfronted Past

• Not all Perpetrators Identified (46:11)

  • Describes paranoia at possibly encountering unidentified rapists in daily life.

• Broader Societal Implications (47:21)

  • “We need to educate our children at a very early age... having suffered as a child doesn't mean you should repeat the same pattern.” (47:55)

8. The Extent of Dominique’s Crimes

• New revelations of earlier crimes, including sexual assault and murder investigations (48:51–51:55).
  • “To me, it was like a bomb had gone off for a second time... He was actually Dr. Jekyll. And Mr. Hyde killed Mr. Hein.” (49:29)

9. Mending Family and Finding Love Again

• Repairing Relationship with Daughter (52:25–55:40)

  • Acknowledgement of friction and gradual reconnection: “I think she’s thinking my mother is not responsible for any of this.”

• Desire to Confront Dominique in Prison (55:52–57:35)

  • Hasn’t yet visited but wants answers: “Maybe he’ll have some remorse when we’re face to face...” (56:08)

• Recovery and New Relationships (57:35–60:03)

  • Found love with another man who had also known suffering: “We were two battered souls... He changed my life. He truly did.” (58:01)
  • Quote: “You might tell me you also trusted M. Penicault. But I don’t think he has that perversion...” (59:05)

10. Healing and Moving Forward

• Embracing Life (60:38–62:08)
  • On physical and emotional recovery: “I go on walks, on bike rides. I’m fortunate to be living on a beautiful island. I feel good in my mind and in my body... I’m lucky to be alive.” (60:58, 62:08)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “I needed to convey that despite all the trials I've been through, I am still a woman who stands tall.” — Giselle (02:28)
• “I trusted him so much that I couldn't imagine that this man was manipulating me because he always said I was the love of his life.” — Giselle (12:17)
• “That woman, Monsieur Pelicauld had disguised me. I looked like a sack of potatoes. I had no soul, nothing. That woman wasn't me. That's probably what saved me, telling myself that.” — Giselle (20:32)
• “You feel dirty, you feel degraded. There's nothing human about it. I spent hours and hours in the shower trying to wash away this filth.” — Giselle (21:42)
• “To carry this shame with us adds insult to the injury, because you keep inflicting that pain on yourself. Fighting that shame on an individual level, rejecting it for myself also meant working for the collective.” — Giselle (30:18)
• “The more people said it to me, the more I took care to be elegant, it was a way of saying you will not affect me.” — Giselle on her courtroom appearance (42:20)
• “With my age, 73, it’s not easy. You get more and more wrinkles, but I’m all right with them… I’m lucky to be alive.” — Giselle (60:58)

Key Timestamps

• 03:41 – Early retirement and happiness before abuse
• 07:08 – First signs of abuse, blackouts begin
• 13:01 – Dominique is arrested; beginning of the unravelling
• 15:13 – Police reveal the full extent of the crimes
• 20:32 – Giselle discusses dissociation and fragmented identity
• 21:42 – Shame and the physical toll
• 29:44 – Decision and moment to waive anonymity
• 33:02 – Confronting the accused in court
• 36:35 – The importance and trauma in watching the video evidence
• 43:25 – The solidarity of women rallying around her
• 45:22 – Sentencing and justice
• 52:25 – On repairing her relationship with her daughter
• 55:52 – Her intentions to meet her ex-husband in prison
• 57:35 – Life after the trial: finding love and healing
• 60:58 – Physical healing and gratitude for life

Tone and Language

The conversation maintains a compassionate and unflinching tone—respectful, direct, and emotionally raw. Giselle’s words are calm, dignified, and honest, moving fluidly from painful reflection to moments of warmth and hope. The host is empathetic, supportive, and gently probes difficult topics while foregrounding Giselle’s agency.

Conclusion

This episode provides a harrowing yet uplifting look into one woman’s survival, the devastating ripple effects of crime on family and community, and the transformative power of courage in the face of cruelty. Giselle’s story—told in her own words—bears witness not only to immense suffering, but also to profound resilience and the possibility of redemption and renewed trust, both in others and in oneself.

For more on this episode, check out Giselle Pelicault’s memoir and visit The Daily’s podcast page.