Ibrahim Maalouf, a renowned French jazz musician, has taken legal action against the Deauville Film Festival after being excluded from a jury he was scheduled to lead during the summer of 2024. According to Aude Hesbert, the festival's director, the decision was made due to "unease" surrounding Maalouf's presence. The Paris Economic and Social Affairs Court will make a ruling on Wednesday, September 16, determining whether Maalouf is entitled to compensation for the exclusion. Maalouf was acquitted in 2020 on appeal of a 2018 conviction for kissing a 14-year-old girl. The court ruled that "the material proof of the facts (...) is not established," meaning there was insufficient evidence to confirm the allegations. Maalouf claimed the teenager had lied and expressed satisfaction with the acquittal, stating that the media had exaggerated the situation and that the legal system "simply did its job." Hesbert explained that the decision to exclude Maalouf was influenced by "strong controversy" and "reactions on social media and in the media," as well as "discomfort within the festival team" related to a past sexual assault allegation involving a minor. She emphasized that she did not want to "substitute herself for the justice" but felt the exclusion was necessary to "protect the smooth running of the festival." She also noted that "Americans are very vigilant about the issue of sexual violence," suggesting the decision was influenced by international concerns. Maalouf, however, argues that his acquittal should have prevented such treatment, and he is seeking over 340,000 euros in economic damages for concerts he had to cancel to be available for the festival. He is also requesting 150,000 euros in moral damages, totaling over 500,000 euros in compensation. Several attempts at conciliation have failed to resolve the dispute, and the court will now deliver its final decision.