The defamation trial of Marie Portolano has entered its deliberation phase, with Pierre Ménès absent from the court proceedings due to "medical reasons." Ménès, a former Canal+ sports commentator, is accused of lying about him in her book, Je suis la femme du plateau, published in March 2024. The book details Marie Portolano’s experiences in the sports journalism industry, including allegations of sexual misconduct. Meanwhile, Ménès is set to face trial on November 16 for several sexual offenses, including one involving Marie Portolano. However, he did not attend the September 7 hearing in Paris, nor did his lawyer, Chloé Redon, who was involved in another case. Ménès requested a postponement through a substitute lawyer, citing medical reasons, but the court denied the request, calling the circumstances "uncertain" and stating it was his responsibility to ensure legal representation. The defense, represented by lawyer Christophe Bigot, rejected the postponement, calling it a "tactical choice" by the civil party. According to Bigot, Ménès did not want to appear in the Nanterre court on November 16, where he will be tried for sexual offenses, fearing a potential acquittal in this defamation case he himself initiated. Ménès filed the lawsuit three months after the publication of Marie Portolano’s book, which criticized a sexist environment in sports journalism and recounted an alleged sexual assault on the Canal+ set in 2016. While she does not name Ménès in the book, he is identifiable through the description of the incident. Marie Portolano expressed surprise that Ménès filed a defamation lawsuit, stating she wrote the book because she was upset that "the entire forest was hiding behind the tree." Her book followed a documentary, Je ne suis pas une salope, je suis une journaliste, which aired in spring 2021 and aimed to expose systemic issues in the industry rather than start a "hunting" for individuals. Bigot argued that Ménès has the right to "a form of spontaneity and subjectivity" in the book, as it is a "testimony of an experience." He claimed the book focuses on "a general issue" rather than specific individuals. During the hearing, a previously cut scene from Marie Portolano’s documentary was shown, in which Ménès says he "may have lifted her skirt but doesn't remember." He also remarked that if she had been "a guy, [he wouldn't have] lifted her skirt." According to Bigot, these comments suggest that Ménès "acknowledges without regret." The public prosecutor stated that Marie Portolano has provided enough evidence to justify her account. The court will deliberate on the case until November 4.