Gilbert Rozon’s sister defends Just for Laughs founder at his sexual assault trial

The civil trial of Gilbert Rozon resumed Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse to hear the Just for Laughs founder’s defence.

The entertainment mogul is being sued for damages by nine women who claimed they were the victims of sexual assault.

Lucie Rozon is Gilbert’s younger sister and worked for her brother for more than three decades. On the witness stand, she described Just for Laughs as one big family, and her brother as a world-renowned leader in the comedy industry who cared about things like pay equity for women.

She described her brother as an over-the-top king of excesses who wanted the best, spoiled his employees, and was generous towards everyone.

Rozon is being sued by nine women for nearly $14 million in damages over allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

But speaking in her brother’s defence, Lucie criticized the accusers by saying that complimenting women wasn’t a crime back then, adding that she never saw her brother abuse alcohol, let alone consume any types of drugs.

On the stand, Lucie disparaged accuser Mary Sicari, a former accountant at Just for Laughs, even though the two used to be close friends.

Sicari testified earlier about the harassment she said she had to put up with.

But Lucie said Sicari never mentioned anything negative about her brother until the sexual harassment scandal broke out in 2017.

Under cross-examination, Lucie said she and the rest of her family stood together in defending their brother, saying she would not have come to court had she had any doubts.

“I would defend my brother in life and in death,” she testified.