The facts date from 2019. Frank Vercruyssen (58), co-founder of theater company STAN, had asked the renowned French actress Georgia Scalliet (37) to collaborate. This resulted in the production Après la répétition, after Ingmar Bergman. The two worked intensely together, creating a close friendship. They were each other’s source of support in difficult times, and occasionally the line between a friendly relationship and an amorous relationship became blurred.
That friendship came to an abrupt end in 2019 when Scalliet discovered that Vercruyssen secretly filmed and photographed her in her dressing room, backstage in the theater. “Vercruyssen had developed an ingenious form of voyeurism,” said Philip De Cleene, the actress’ lawyer. “He had installed an app that unknowingly takes a photo every ten seconds. He had placed his mobile phone in the dressing room to film her while she was changing and washing. Mrs Scalliet noticed this and confronted him with the facts.”
Frank Vercruyssen at the Palace of Justice during the hearing on March 27. — © Jan Van der Perre
Frank Vercruyssen himself, who as an actor has also appeared in numerous series and films of which Zillion is the most famous recent example, said that he was deeply ashamed of his actions. He said that he was madly in love with Scalliet, but that love was impossible. By secretly taking images of her, he could have her “a little bit”.
“I consider myself a gentle, honest person. So I am deeply ashamed of the fact that I took something that was not mine,” Vercruyssen told the court. “I also feel terrible that I hurt my best friend by taking images of her without her knowledge and consent.”
“Scalliet and Vercruyssen were both renowned theater makers and worked on equal terms. The aggravating circumstance that there was a relationship of authority between the two has not been proven.”
Court judgment
The court considers the facts of voyeurism proven. The judges are of the opinion that there was no relationship of authority between Vercruyssen and Scalliet, as the victim had argued. “The facts demonstrate a lack of respect for the physical integrity of the victim,” the court said. “It has been a long friendship. Scalliet and Vercruyssen were both renowned theater makers and worked on equal terms. The aggravating circumstance that there was a relationship of authority between the two has not been proven.”
The criminal court grants Vercruyssen the favor of suspension. Vercruyssen has acknowledged the facts, already paid compensation to the victim and voluntarily entered into therapy. The court also does not impose additional damages. Theater STAN, Frank Vercruyssen’s company, previously reached a settlement with Georgia Scalliet.