this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2025
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"Besson's second wife was actress and director Maïwenn Le Besco, whom he started dating when he was 32 and she was 15 after having met 3 years earlier. They married in late 1992 when Le Besco, 16, was pregnant with their daughter Shanna, who was born on 3 January 1993. Le Besco later claimed that their relationship inspired Besson's film Léon (1994), where the plot involved the emotional relationship between an adult man and a 12-year-old girl (played by then 12-year-old Natalie Portman)."
Wikipedia actually uses the word "abusing", not "dating".
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Besson
Looks like that was changed just a few hours ago.
But yes. I watched Leon and was absolutely blown away by how blatantly pedophilic it was. Like, truly disturbing, completely inappropriate. I don't know how Besson has escaped unscathed by the court of public opinion. Portman was sixteen in that movie and he had her singing happy birthday in her underwear, imitating Marilyn Monroe. Leon sits in bed with her and she caresses her exposed midriff while talking about how she loves him and how it feels warm in her stomach or some shit. Sixteen, man. There was an entire movie production crew there and no one fucking thought this was abusive to compell a child to do? I enjoyed Fifth Element just like everyone else, but knowing now what I know about Luc and his fucked up history, that shit's cancelled, man. And all the actors in that movie are on serious waiver.
Not to mention multiple accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior and a rape allegation.
such a romantic 🧔💞👶