The Paris Court of Appeal is set to deliver its ruling on September 18 in the case of Stéphane Plaza, a former television personality accused of "habitual violence" by two former partners between 2018 and 2022. In an earlier trial, Plaza was sentenced to one year in prison, but the sentence was suspended, meaning he did not serve time. He appeared before the appeal court in late June and early July. The prosecution has asked for a lighter sentence than the one originally imposed, dropping the claim that the violence was habitual. Instead, they are requesting that Plaza be convicted for acts of violence against one of the two women, with a sentence of six months in prison, a two-year probation period, and a fine of 12,000 euros. They have not requested a conviction for the acts alleged by the second complainant, as those were based solely on her own statements. The case began following a report by the investigative journalism website Mediapart in September 2023, which exposed allegations of violence against former partners by Plaza. Two women came forward with accusations: Paola, who described the psychological harm she suffered, and Amandine, who detailed multiple incidents of physical violence, including an event where Plaza allegedly broke her finger and dislocated two others. Plaza admitted to the incident with Amandine, explaining that he has dyspraxia, a neurological condition that can affect motor skills, and argued that he may not have full control over his movements. In February 2025, the Paris judicial court found Plaza not guilty of the charges brought by Paola but convicted him of the acts alleged by Amandine, sentencing him to one year in prison with a suspended term. Plaza immediately announced his intention to appeal the verdict. Plaza has consistently denied being violent. During his testimony in the Paris judicial court, he described himself as a "coward" and a "wimp," denying any desire for violence. He claimed he had joined organizations that support women and accused the complainants of lying and spreading false information. He positioned himself as a victim, which frustrated the complainants. He also mentioned losing a contract with the Disney group, which had planned to have him star in a Marvel superhero movie, due to the allegations against him. In June 2026, during his appeal hearing, Plaza defended himself in what was described as a "disastrous" moment for his public image. He frequently referred to himself as a "beauf" (a term used to describe a man perceived as unattractive or lacking in sophistication) and a "big idiot," admitting to infidelity during that period of his life but denying any violence. This case has significantly damaged his career. Following the initial conviction, the M6 television network ended all collaboration with him. His real estate agency network, also under his name, has suffered as many franchisees have requested financial compensation due to a decline in revenue linked to the scandal. In May 2025, Plaza was also required to pay a 3,000-euro fine after admitting to using cocaine following 24 hours in custody, despite previously denying ever using drugs. The number "3919" is a national hotline in France for women experiencing various forms of violence, including spousal, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as forced marriages and female genital mutilation. It is a free and anonymous service provided by the National Federation of Solidarity for Women (FNSF), offering support, guidance, and information on available resources.