Linda Evangelista revealed that her marriage to Gérald Marie was not all that they made it seem. In an interview for the new AppleTV+ documentary, The Super Models, the 58-year-old fashion model opened up about her abusive marriage to the former model agency boss, now 73 years old.
The former pair was married from 1987 to 1993. The third episode of the four-part series focuses on Linda, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington. Once images appeared on the screen of the model and her former husband, she opened up about what she had to endure.
"I celebrate all the great things that we got to do, but it wasn't as glorious as one would think it was," Linda shared. "I learned that, maybe, I was in the wrong relationship."
At the time the pair got married, she was 22 and he was 37. Her modeling career was just getting started, and he would soon become the head of Elite Model Management.
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"It's easier said than done to leave an abusive relationship, I understand that concept because I lived it," the supermodel explained. "If it was a matter of saying, 'I want a divorce, see you.' It doesn't work that way."
"He knew not to touch my face," she said. "Not to touch the moneymaker, you know?" The former model agency boss was accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women in September 2020.
The alleged incidents date back to the 1980s and '90s. Of the women who came forward, former models Carré Otis and Jill Dodd were included.
In February 2023, French prosecutors closed the investigation into him due to the statute of limitations. Before this decision, Gérald stated, "It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time on the allegations of historic wrongdoing being made against me, other than to make it clear that I categorically deny them."
"When I found out that he's hurt many, many, many women, he's violated many women, it broke my heart," Linda shared in the documentary. "I never, never told my story because I feared. Thanks to the power of all these women coming forward. Bless them, God bless all of them. It gave me the courage, now, to speak."
A lawyer of her ex-husband issued a statement to AppleTV+, stating that his client "has never committed the slightest act of violence." The statement was broadcast in the documentary as well.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
