Laurent Ruquier sentenced after years of legal battles: “I gave him money for his golden years.”

Laurent Ruquier Reflects on Legal Battle with Catherine Barma

After the recent conclusion of the  judicial proceedings  between Laurent Ruquier and Catherine Barma, the renowned host has opened up about their tumultuous relationship. During a candid interview on On refait la télé on RTL, Ruquier clarified various aspects of their battle and shared insights into their current relationship status.

“Humanly, it’s disgusting. Professionally, she managed to do things for me that were right. There’s nothing to say about that,” said Ruquier regarding Barma, who had been his long-time collaborator.

The Background of Their Dispute

The  judicial case  had created quite a stir because of the close working relationship between the two parties. For many years, Ruquier and Barma collaborated on various shows. However, the troubles between them began to surface publicly in 2020, following the  cancellation  of their hit program, On n’est pas couché, on France 2. Their disagreements soon escalated into a legal feud.

In June 2022, the courts mandated that Ruq Productions and Little Bros, both belonging to Laurent Ruquier, pay  €1.5 million  to Tout sur l’Écran, a company owned by Catherine Barma. Following this ruling from the Paris Commercial Court, Ruquier decided to file an appeal, but things took a turn for the worse when the appellate court imposed an  additional €40,000  in penalties.

Where Do They Stand Now?

During his recent interview, Ruquier was asked about the status of his relationship with Barma. He remarked, “I haven’t seen her in I don’t know how many years, so I cannot answer you. I would be curious to know how she would react if we bump into each other on the street.” He went on to confirm that the legal issues are now resolved, stating, “I’ve paid, I don’t want to hear about it anymore. I’ve given her money for her old age; she just has to enjoy it.”

Ruquier further clarified that the bulk of the money he was required to pay was not related to an economic dismissal, as some reports suggested. “I had to reimburse 15 years of best-of of the show because it wasn’t written in the contracts that I should earn half of the profits from the best-of. I had obviously received them all these years,” he emphasized, explaining that Barma and her company had benefitted from these payments, but the court ruled against him based on the contracts.

Turning the Page

After acknowledging the severity of his case in the appellate court, Ruquier expressed a desire to move forward. “For me, all of this is ancient history… Good for her,” he stated. Ruquier is eager to turn the page on this chapter to concentrate on his new ventures.

In fact, he is set to debut a  new show  titled Chez Ruquier on the new TNT channel, T18, starting June 14. Ruquier shared that in this fresh endeavor, there will be  no recurring guests ; instead, he will be hosting six guests alone. This shift indicates his readiness to embrace new opportunities while leaving the past behind.

In summary, Laurent Ruquier’s reflections on his conflict with Catherine Barma underscore both the complexities of personal and professional relationships in the entertainment industry and highlight his commitment to moving forward. As he prepares to engage his audience with new projects, it seems that the past remains just that—a part of a story that has concluded.