Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday he welcomed French actress Catherine Deneuve's recent denunciation of the "#MeToo" campaign against sexual harassment and abuse.

"Catherine Deneuve spoke blessed words," Berlusconi said in a television interview. "It's natural that women are happy if a man tries to seduce them."

Deneuve and 99 other women signed an open letter in French daily Le Monde on Tuesday criticizing the "#MeToo" campaign as "puritanical" and a "witch-hunt" against men that left no room for what they said was acceptable seductive behavior.

"#MeToo" began after multiple sexual harassment and rape allegations emerged against Hollywood media mogul Harvey Weinstein in October. Women around the world used the hashtag to share their personal experiences of harassment and assault.

Read more: Catherine Deneuve's attack on #MeToo sparks fury

French stars divided over #MeToo Catherine Deneuve Among the signatories of the open letter was Oscar-nominated French star Catherine Deneuve. Already known for her controversial stance toward harassment, Deneuve has said she finds the #MeToo and #BalanceTonPorc social media actions "excessive." That's after she expressed her support for director Roman Polanski, who is still wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

French stars divided over #MeToo Catherine Millet Modern art expert and editor-in-chief of the magazine Art Press, Catherine Millet was also among the signatories who wrote, "Rape is a crime, but trying to seduce someone, even persistently or cack-handedly, is not — nor is men being gentlemanly a macho attack." Millet is perhaps best known for her book, "The Sexual Life of Catherine M.," a memoir tracing her 30 years in France's swinger scene.

French stars divided over #MeToo Ingrid Caven German-born Chanson singer, Ingrid Caven, added her name to the open letter, which claims that the protest's legitimacy has turned into a "witch-hunt." "Instead of helping women, this frenzy (...) actually helps the enemies of sexual liberty — religious extremists and the worst sort of reactionaries. As women, we do not recognize ourselves in this feminism."

French stars divided over #MeToo Brigitte Lahaie A radio talk show host who got her start in the porn industry in 1976, just a year after it was legalized, Brigitte Lahaie signed the letter, which speaks of a "purifying wave" that knows no limit. "(T)he human being is not monolithic: a woman can in the same day lead a professional team and enjoy being the sexual object of a man without being a 'slut' nor a vile accomplice of the patriarchy."

French stars divided over #MeToo #BalanceTonPorc France's version of #MeToo is #BalanceTonPorc, or "call out your pig." Created by NY-based French journalist Sandra Muller, it essentially invites people to name names — and that involves legal risks. Muller herself was asked by lawyers to delete a tweet in which she named a French executive who had said offensive remarks.

French stars divided over #MeToo Ségolène Royal Prominent feminists quickly responded to the letter signed by Deneuve, saying that it blurred the line between seduction and harassment and in doing so, harmed the "millions of women who suffer from this abuse." Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal took to Twitter to express her dismay, saying, "It's too bad that our great Catherine Deneuve has signed on to this disconcerting text."

French stars divided over #MeToo Emma De Caunes Among the women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of inappropriate behavior is French actress Emma De Caunes. De Caunes said she had met Weinstein for lunch at a Paris Hotel in 2010. She was invited to his hotel room to discuss a project but after he walked out of his bathroom naked with an erection, Caunes fled. "It was like a hunter with a wild animal," she said. "The fear turns him on."

French stars divided over #MeToo Florence Darel In October, actress Florence Darel also came out as having been sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein, telling People magazine that Weinstein pursued her in the mid '90s and then propositioned her in a hotel room while his then-wife, Eve Chilton, was in the room next door. Darcel, who starred in "The Stolen Children" and "Uranus" has also accused other French producers, including Jacques Dorfmann.

French stars divided over #MeToo Isabelle Adjani In October, shortly after the accusations against Harvey Weinstein went public, French actress Isabelle Adjani published an op-ed in the weekly JDD newspaper saying, "(T)his is not a game … When an actress dresses up in a seductive way to get a role, it's not to get raped!" She went on to say that in France, "things are more sneaky" than in the US — but "seduction" cannot be an excuse for assault. Author: Courtney Tenz



Bunga bunga

"I don't have much experience with this [seducing a woman] because it's always women who try to seduce me," Berlusconi said. "The important thing is that the courtship is elegant."

The billionaire resigned as prime minister in 2011 following revelations he had hosted "Bunga Bunga" erotic parties with young women and had sex with an underage nightclub dancer known as "Ruby the Heart Stealer."

A judge cleared Berlusconi in 2014 of any wrongdoing for sleeping with Ruby after ruling it could not be proved the former prime minister knew her age when he slept with her.

Berlusconi is currently on trial over accusations he bribed witnesses in the Ruby case.

Read more: Silvio Berlusconi to face trial for 'bunga bunga' bribe?

Watch video 03:07 Share Sexual harassment on Capitol Hill Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2oRTt Women open up about sexual harassment on Capitol Hill

Political comeback

Berlusconi has been trying to return to political prominence as the leader of the conservative Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party ahead of parliamentary elections in March.

The party is doing well in opinion polls, but a 2013 tax fraud conviction bars Berlusconi from entering office.

Read more: Italy's Silvio Berlusconi appeals public office ban in Strasbourg

amp/rc (Reuters, AFP)