Full Breakdown
Former French Model Accuses Scout of Grooming Her for Jeffrey Epstein; New Allegations Expand Probe
5/5/2026, 1:24:06 PM
Allegations of Grooming by Daniel Siad
Juliette G., a former French model, says French modelling scout Daniel Siad approached her in a Paris avenue in 2004, offered “professional opportunities” in the United States, and arranged a flight to New York. Upon arrival she was taken to an address on Madison Avenue, met Jeffrey Epstein—whom Siad had never mentioned—and was forced to surrender her passport, a step Siad’s accuser describes as “hostage taking.” Epstein later gave her $120, a limousine, and a series of “tests” that culminated in a bedroom encounter where she felt compelled to warn him she would not comply.
Background & Context
The accusations emerge amid a broader reckoning with sexual abuse in the fashion industry following the global MeToo movement. French authorities have previously arrested modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel in late 2020 on similar charges of procuring women for Epstein; Brunel died in prison in 2022. Siad is currently under investigation in France for alleged participation in Epstein’s trafficking network.
Key Figures & Groups
- Daniel Siad – French modelling scout accused of grooming multiple women for Epstein and other powerful men.
- Juliette G. – French model who alleges Siad facilitated her encounter with Epstein.
- Jeffrey Epstein – Convicted sex-trafficking financier who died in custody in 2019.
- Ebba Karlsson – Former Swedish model who says Siad groomed her for Elite’s former head Gerald Marie and later raped her in a pool house near Cannes.
- Gerald Marie – Former European head of Elite, accused by 15 women (including Karlsson) of involvement in grooming schemes; a rape probe against him was dropped in 2023.
- Elite – Modelling agency once managed supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford.
Timeline of Allegations and Legal Actions
- 1990 – Siad approaches 20-year-old Ebba Karlsson in Sweden.
- 2004 – Siad contacts 21-year-old Juliette G. in Paris; she travels to New York and meets Epstein.
- Late 2020 – French police arrest Jean-Luc Brunel on Epstein-related charges.
- 2022 – Brunel is found dead in prison.
- March 2024 – Fifteen women, including Karlsson, petition French authorities to investigate Gerald Marie.
- 2023 – Marie’s rape probe is officially closed, according to his lawyer.
- 2026 (May 5) – France 24 publishes Juliette G.’s detailed testimony; Siad’s lawyer denies the accusations.
On-the-Ground Accounts
Juliette G. recounts being shown a gym with photographs “zooming in on women’s intimate body parts,” then taken to a bedroom where she warned Epstein she would not cooperate. She later demanded the return of her passport, which Siad allegedly retrieved from a pile of “some twenty passports.”
Ebba Karlsson describes Siad’s “saviour” persona, his promises of fame, and a subsequent rape in a pool house near Cannes. She says she was later invited to an audition at Marie’s home, where ten girls were instructed to parade braless before being dismissed.
Official Statements & Responses
- Daniel Siad – Denies all accusations; his lawyer Menya Arab-Tigrine called the claims “unfounded.”
- Gerald Marie’s lawyer Celine Bekerman – Described the allegations as “unfounded attacks” and noted the 2023 rape probe had been dropped.
- French prosecutors – Confirm an ongoing investigation into Siad’s alleged role in facilitating Epstein’s trafficking network.
Criticism & Opposition
The accusers argue that Siad’s tactics—targeting, testing, and “hostage taking”—enabled powerful men to exploit vulnerable models. Fifteen women’s petition underscores a perceived pattern of grooming within French-linked modelling circles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Siad’s outright denial contrasts with detailed victim testimonies. Marie’s lawyer asserts no legal basis for the claims, while plaintiffs maintain that the dropped probe does not preclude accountability. No court rulings have yet resolved the allegations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I identified quite a few stages that led me there,” — Juliette G., former model
- “My internal alarm went off,” — Juliette G.
- “He would attach to their desires, their longings, and portray himself as some kind of saviour,” — Ebba Karlsson, former Swedish model
- “he put his fingers into me” — Ebba Karlsson
- “unfounded attacks” — Celine Bekerman, lawyer for Gerald Marie
Why It Matters
The revelations broaden scrutiny of French individuals who may have facilitated Epstein’s trafficking operations, potentially prompting further legal action against the modelling industry’s power structures. They also reinforce calls for systemic reforms to protect aspiring models from exploitation.
