Overview

• Mimi Marchand took the stand on May 27 in Paris to face charges of extorting €1,600 from TV host Karine Le Marchand over a photo of her minor daughter.
• On the witness stand, Marchand admitted wiring €3,000 to a photographer to block the image and repeatedly described her own actions as “idiote.”
• Veteran paparazzo Sébastien Valiela testified that Marchand routinely intercepts unfavorable celebrity photos and casts herself as a “savior” to gain influence.
• Karine Le Marchand has told the court she felt harassed by Marchand’s persistent payment demands before reporting the incident to police.
• The trial, which highlights ethical questions in celebrity media and power dynamics, is scheduled to continue through June 2, 2025.