Josiane Balasko on the Richard Berry case: “I am not in the place of justice, but Coline is not lying”

Josiane Balasko has publicly reaffirmed her support for her niece Coline Berry, who accused her father, actor Richard Berry, of incest. In an interview published by Paris Match on the occasion of the release of the novel Le dernier sanctuaire, Balasko said she continues to stand by Coline because, in her view, she is a person who has suffered and deserves support.

Balasko first spoke out on May 3 through an Instagram message defending Coline Berry. In that post, which was later shared by her daughter Marilou Berry, the actress rejected claims that the family had mocked Coline with the nickname “Coco la Mytho.” She said she had known Coline since she was a very young child and had never heard anyone in the family use such a name. Her message came after a separate Instagram post on May 1 by Richard Berry’s sister, Marie, who accused Coline of lying since childhood and repeated the nickname “Coco la mytho.”

In the Paris Match interview, Balasko said she was not speaking in the place of the justice system, but insisted that Coline is not lying. She argued that it is unacceptable to label a little girl a mythomaniac and said such an accusation “means nothing” in that context. Balasko explained that her decision to speak publicly was driven by the fact that her voice mattered and that she wanted to support someone she believes has endured real suffering.

The actress also linked her support to the broader issue of legal time limits for abuse allegations. Coline Berry has been campaigning for the offenses she denounces to be made imprescriptible, meaning not subject to a statute of limitations. Balasko echoed that concern, saying victims continue to suffer throughout their lives and that their pain does not disappear with time.

Her remarks add weight to a case that has already drawn public attention because it involves members of a well-known French acting family. Balasko’s intervention is notable both for its direct support of Coline Berry and for her criticism of the way victims can be discredited within families. Her comments present the dispute not only as a personal family conflict, but also as part of a wider debate about how allegations of sexual abuse are received and judged.

Balasko’s stance comes amid renewed discussion of Coline Berry’s accusations and the responses from Richard Berry’s relatives. By speaking out again in Paris Match, Balasko made clear that she does not believe Coline is inventing the allegations and that she intends to continue supporting her publicly and personally.