Marchand Convicted of Extortion Over False Photo Scandal Involving Karine Le Marchand
French media figure Michèle Marchand, known for her close ties to celebrities and political elites, has been convicted of extortion in a case involving television personality Karine Le Marchand and photos purportedly showing Le Marchand’s underage daughter leaving police custody.
The incident, which took place in February 2020, has exposed the inner workings of France’s tabloid press and highlighted the lengths to which certain media operatives have gone to exert influence and extract money under false pretenses.
The court found that Marchand, a powerful tabloid boss and founder of the BestImage photo agency, falsely claimed she had paid off an unknown paparazzo to prevent the publication of compromising images involving Le Marchand’s daughter.
At the time, Marchand told Le Marchand that she had intervened to protect her and her family, urging her to reimburse the cost—1,600 euros (approximately $1,884). Feeling pressured and fearing for her daughter’s privacy and reputation, Le Marchand paid the sum.
However, during the trial, Marchand admitted that the entire story had been fabricated. The photos were not taken by an unknown third party but rather by one of her own agency’s photographers.
Furthermore, the court found that the images were never at risk of being published since they were legally unsellable; the subject, Le Marchand’s daughter, was underage at the time, which made any such publication a legal and ethical breach.
In handing down the ruling, the presiding judge condemned Marchand’s manipulation and abuse of her position. “The offences were facilitated by your network, by using your address book to secure favours by any means, showing contempt for the victims and a certain level of pettiness,” the judge stated.
The court noted that Le Marchand felt “indebted” to the 78-year-old media figure, believing that Marchand had protected her, when in fact she had been deceived. The court imposed an 18-month suspended sentence on Marchand—a harsher punishment than the one-year suspended sentence requested by the prosecution.
In addition, she was fined 25,000 euros and ordered to repay the 1,600 euros to Le Marchand. The court emphasized that it “does not matter” whether Marchand explicitly solicited the money. The act of creating a false narrative and benefiting financially from it was sufficient to constitute extortion.
Marchand’s legal team has announced an immediate appeal. Her lawyer argued that she never directly asked for money and that the transaction was voluntary. Nevertheless, the court maintained that the payment was obtained through manipulation and deception, and that her actions amounted to a serious breach of trust.
This conviction is not the first time Marchand has faced legal scrutiny. She was charged in 2021 in connection with a broader investigation into alleged corruption involving former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Sarkozy has been accused of receiving funds from former Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign. Marchand’s potential role in that case has not yet been resolved, but it has already raised questions about her influence and methods within elite French political and media circles.
Known for her long-standing connections to high-profile figures, including celebrities and politicians, Michèle Marchand has long operated in the shadows of France’s media world.
Her conviction signals a rare moment of accountability for someone whose influence has often gone unchecked. The ruling underscores the growing intolerance for media manipulation, extortion, and the exploitation of power in the name of influence and reputation management.
For Karine Le Marchand, the court’s decision brings a measure of justice after years of emotional and reputational toll. For the broader French public, the case sheds light on the darker aspects of celebrity media dealings—and the real-world consequences when power is abused for personal gain.
