Who Did What Now, Ep. 183: Gisèle Pelicot – To Hell and Back

Host: Katie Charlwood
Date: March 8, 2026

Episode Overview

On this powerful International Women’s Day episode, host Katie Charlwood departs from her usual older historical topics to share the harrowing, immediate, and essential story of Gisèle Pelicot. Gisèle survived a decade of drug-facilitated sexual abuse by her husband—and numerous other men he invited—without her knowledge. Her eventual fight for justice not only shattered a deeply held illusion of her family but led to a national reckoning in France about sexual violence, consent, and the law. Katie’s narrative walks listeners through the personal, social, and legal ramifications of the Pelicot trial, revealing both the horror endured and the resolve demonstrated by Gisèle to reclaim her life and her name.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why This Story? (03:40)

• Katie opens explaining her decision to break her usual “25 years plus” rule to focus on recent history due to the ongoing importance of women’s stories and the direct impact on contemporary society.
• She forewarns: “I am going to be talking about abuse, some sexual assault, rape, just so many horrible, vile things. Murder. It's going to be awful, it's going to be unpleasant and it's not going to be easy for any of us.” (07:34, Katie)

2. Gisèle Pelicot: Early Life & Marriage as Foundation (09:10–22:00)

• Gisèle, born 1952 in Germany, raised in rural France, suffered early family tragedies (losing her mother at 9).
• Despite a turbulent relationship with a cruel stepmother, Gisèle developed strength and independence, eventually securing secretarial work in Paris.
• Met Dominique Pelicot at 19, married after two years, had three children, and displayed fierce loyalty to her family throughout decades marked by financial hardship, with Gisèle as primary breadwinner.

3. Warning Signs and Gaslighting (22:00–33:00)

• Dominique’s problematic past emerges: upskirting incidents in 2010 and 2020 (seen as isolated by Gisèle, who encouraged his therapy).
• Katie highlights Gisèle’s rationalizations: “She didn't want to tell the children...we were going to work through this. He was going to go to therapy and, you know, get better was the goal.” (29:05, Katie)
• Signs of Dominique’s manipulation: isolating Gisèle in retirement, health issues and memory loss unexplained by doctors, and increased dependency on him for basic activities.

4. The Shock of Discovery (13:00, 32:31–41:30)

• November 2, 2020: expecting a police formality, Gisèle is confronted by officers with hundreds of photos documenting men she did not know raping her unconscious body in her own bed.
• Notable quote: “She recognised her bed, her nightstand, her lamp, her bedroom... The unconscious woman in the pictures...was her.” (13:50, Katie)

5. The Mechanisms and Scope of Abuse (41:30–54:50)

• Police and family uncover painstakingly orchestrated abuse: Dominique drugged Gisèle systematically, invited men from an infamous French chat forum (coco.fr), and filmed hundreds of rapes over more than a decade.
• Dominique’s online bragging showed chilling calculation: “He posted openly about how much he enjoyed what he called rape mode.” (44:44, Katie)
• Out of 92 men in the files, police identified 83; only 52 could be found and prosecuted.

6. Family Fallout & Complexity (54:50–61:00)

• Children confront the revelation, experiencing rage, trauma, and suspicion that Dominique’s abuse may have reached even further (including daughter Caroline, who discovers indecent images of herself).
• Notable moment: “She spoke to her children, explaining that their father drugged her, raped her and helped others rape her, and that he was taken by police. David, her eldest son, only responded with, 'I have to go, Mama.' She found out later that he had hung up and vomited.” (40:22, Katie)

7. Legal Battle & Public Reckoning (61:00–76:00)

• The Pelicot rape trial earns national and international attention as one of France’s largest ever, forcing legal and cultural reflection.
• Gisèle makes the deliberate decision to waive anonymity: “She decided to be brave, to not give them the ability to hide. And that shame had to switch sides.” (69:44, Katie)
• Court scenes: Over 50 defendants, from many walks of life, faced sentences (full list and sentences detailed by Katie, 71:20–76:10).
• Powerful quote: “She told the men that none of them were forced to rape her. They did not have a gun to their head. Not one reported what was happening, especially those who left.” (76:28, Katie)

8. Aftermath and Legal Reform (76:00–81:00)

• The case led to a landmark change in French law: consent, not just violence or coercion, is now part of the legal definition of rape (ratified in 2025).
• “This change is the result of cross party years long debate which came to the forefront because of the Pellico rape trial and because of the advocacy, the advocacy right of Gisèle Pellico.” (80:20, Katie)
• Gisèle rebuilds her life in a new community, determined to reject shame and live with joy, defying the attempts to erase her agency.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On resilience:
  “She could have shrivelled away and hid, but instead she took a stand. That is the story of Gisèle Pelicot, a woman determined to live her life with joy.” (80:50, Katie)
• On the cultural shift and the meaning of shame:
  “Shame had to switch sides. She should not be shamed for being the victim of an attack. It's the attacker who should feel shame.” (69:49, Katie)
• On the legal breakthrough:
  “Now the law will say that all sexual acts done to another without consent constitute rape. This only came through in 2025. This is incredibly recent.” (80:01, Katie)

Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• [07:34] – Katie’s content warning and the “why” of the episode
• [13:50] – Gisèle shown photos of the abuse
• [22:00–29:05] – The couple’s home life, Dominique’s first upskirting incident, and early warning signs
• [32:31–41:30] – Medical mysteries, increasing isolation, and the police discovery
• [44:44] – Details on Dominique’s online activity and network of abusers
• [61:00–76:10] – The trial, results, and Gisèle’s testimony
• [80:01] – New legal definition of rape and legacy of the case
• [81:00–end] – Katie’s closing reflections, recommendations for further listening/reading/watching

Recommendations from Katie

• Listen: Ghosted by Roz Hernandez (“You need a break at this point.”)
• Read: A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot
• Watch: North of North (Katie: “Demand that Netflix give it a second season—it’s really good!”)

Tone & Style Notes

Katie narrates with empathy, sorrow, and bursts of justified anger, maintaining a conversational and occasionally irreverent tone, but always respectful of Gisèle’s trauma and resilience. She contextualizes events, reflects on social implications, and does not shy away from the disturbing details—serving both to inform and to shake listeners from complacency.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode…

This episode tells the harrowing story of a woman betrayed on every possible level—her trust, her family, her body—and how she transformed her trauma into fuel for profound legal and social change. Gisèle’s courage led directly to reforms which now protect others in France, and Katie’s storytelling ensures that her name—and what it stands for—will never be forgotten.