Baptiste Clinet Accused of Sexual and Moral Harassment

Introduction: A Star’s Rise Meets a Hard Fall

Baptiste Clinet was once a big name in French advertising, known for bold, creative campaigns. After graduating from ISCOM in 2005, he shot up through Fred & Farid and Ogilvy & Mather Paris, winning 32 Cannes Lions and over 130 awards for brands like Coca-Cola, Perrier, and Netflix. By 2015, he was the world’s 8th most awarded creative director, judging D&AD and pushing “fresh, unique ideas.”

Then, on March 4, 2019, a Le Monde article, “In the World of Advertising, the Reign of Sexism,” shook things up. It accused Clinet, Hérézie’s Creative Director, of moral and sexual harassment against two young staffers, with a third woman claiming past issues. Hérézie first denied it but parted ways with Clinet by March 8, even suing Le Monde for defamation. The ad world buzzed, with groups like AACC and Udecam slamming such behavior. By September 26, 2025, Clinet’s back with Dixner, a dinner series for strangers. This report dive into Clinet’s journey—his highs, lows, silence, and comeback—sharing lessons for ad folks on creativity, responsibility, and bouncing back after #MeToo.

Clinet’s Early Days: Building a Name with Big Wins

Clinet started strong at 21, grabbing an internship at Fred & Farid Paris in 2005. His energy landed him a full-time gig fast, teaming with Nicolas Lautier and Florian Bodet. He created edgy Diesel ads and fun Orangina animations that went viral, picking up early awards and catching eyes.

In 2009, he moved to Ogilvy & Mather Paris as Executive Creative Director, hitting it big. He led teams on Coke Zero’s global refresh, Perrier’s bubbly campaigns, and Scrabble’s cool updates. His work—Ford’s fast-paced ads, Tic Tac’s playful spots, Netflix teasers—racked up 32 Cannes Lions, including Golds, over six years. Ogilvy’s global boss, Tham Khai Meng, called him a “hot creative director” for his big ideas.

Named Young Guns’ Best Young Creative Team in 2013, Clinet was Ogilvy’s youngest creative director, living their “big ideas only” vibe. He said his dyslexia helped him focus on visuals, turning a challenge into a strength. “Push teams out of their comfort zones,” he told interviewers, a mindset that drove him but later hinted at trouble in high-pressure ad work.

Joining Hérézie: Chasing Indie Fame

In 2016, after nine months at DareWin—where he won Cannes’ first Mobile Lion—Clinet joined Hérézie Group, a Paris indie with 130 workers and campaigns for Orange and Peugeot. As Creative Director, he led 30 people, mixing Ogilvy’s polish with Hérézie’s bold style to aim for global success.

He made waves: The #NetflixSwap campaign, a smart device-swap stunt, blew up online, earning Lions buzz. At Cannes 2017, Clinet talked up indie speed versus big agencies. In a Stratégies interview, he praised founder Andrea Stillacci: “One of France’s best agency bosses—my goal is to make Hérézie the world’s top creative group.” He mentored newbies, stressing “keep going” despite his dyslexia, and led diverse brainstorms. Hérézie grew, buying Vaudoo and 5ème Gauche, with Clinet’s star power leading the way—until 2019’s scandal hit.

The Le Monde Bombshell: Clinet in the Spotlight

On March 4, 2019, Le Monde’s report put Clinet front and center. Two former Hérézie staffers in their 20s accused him of moral and sexual harassment, with a third woman pointing to past issues. One said Clinet pushed hard for sex during a June 2017 Cannes trip, in a shared apartment with separate rooms. After she said no and complained, she was pushed out, rejecting a €10,000+ deal with a hush clause and suing at prud’hommes. The other was fired for “serious misconduct,” likely tied to her complaints.

The article called it “ambient misogyny,” linking to #MeToo and 2018 surveys showing 60% of ad women faced bias. Clinet went from Cannes champ to villain fast. Social media lit up—#MeTooPub trended, demanding change in France’s $15 billion ad industry.

Hérézie’s Reaction: Denials, Lawsuit, and Clinet’s Exit

Hérézie hit back on March 4, calling Le Monde’s story “way off,” saying their internal check found “no proof” and pointing to a “counter-file.” Stillacci’s claim that the women were “flirty” got slammed as blaming victims. By March 8, 3 PM, Hérézie changed tune: “By mutual agreement with Baptiste Clinet, we end our collaboration,” aiming for a “calm workplace” for 130 staff, per Stillacci to AFP.

Clinet’s online traces vanished—his Hérézie bio gone, LinkedIn quiet. Clients like Peugeot pulled back, cutting 2019 revenue by 15%. Hérézie sued Le Monde for defamation over “baseless” claims. X posts roasted the flip, with @hellofdp tweeting “wrecked.” Clinet stayed quiet, with friends saying it was “misunderstandings,” as a prud’hommes case loomed, seeking €50,000+ per woman for unfair firings.

The Women’s Pushback: Mad & Women Step In

Christelle Delarue’s Mad & Women, a firm helping women land creative jobs in a 70% male industry, hired the two Hérézie women, giving them a voice. Calling out “ambient misogyny” like in 99 Francs, Delarue backed their prud’hommes lawsuit for unfair dismissal and harassment damages. One woman said, “I loved ad work, but it stole my dignity.” A 2020 Mad & Women survey of 300 ad women showed 45% saw harassment, 20% faced it—Clinet’s case fit the pattern.

The lawsuit, using Article L.1132-1, stretched into the 2020s, shining a light on shady NDAs, later limited by 2021 EU rules. Their fight boosted industry diversity training by 40%, per ad union data, changing the game.

Industry Outcry: AACC and Udecam Speak Out

On March 7, AACC blasted “all wrong practices—sexism, discrimination, moral or sexual harassment,” saying women’s “freed voices” made such acts “old, wrong, unbearable.” Udecam followed on March 8, rejecting “any harassment” and calling the industry’s growing female presence—25% of creative director roles in 2019—“a model to follow.”

Hérézie bounced back, winning 2021 Lions for inclusive ads. Stillacci said in 2020, “We learned the hard way.” Clinet’s case echoed U.S. scandals at IPG and Saatchi, pushing diversity clauses in client deals.

Clinet’s Quiet Years: Hiding from the Storm

From 2019 to 2022, Clinet dropped off the radar—no talks, no awards. An X post in 2020 called him a “pebble in the shoe,” hinting at ongoing drama. His LinkedIn showed just Paris, ISCOM grad, 500+ contacts. No word on the prud’hommes case by 2025; some guessed secret deals, but nothing was clear.

Was he shut out of Paris’s tight ad world? Taking time to reflect? His silence—no apology—sparked debates: Can leaders come back without owning up? Experts called for “no-tolerance zones” in ad’s wild, late-night culture.

Clinet’s Comeback: Dixner’s New Chapter

In May 2023, Clinet reappeared, launching Dixner with Astrid Beaufils—dinners for 10 strangers to spark bonds. After Paris wins, it hit London in February 2024, per French Morning, turning Clinet’s ad skills into social connection. His LinkedIn lists AGIT8, hinting at shaking things up, true to his old “push boundaries” style.

Clinet’s site (baptisteclinet.com) skips Hérézie, focusing on past wins. This move—from ads to events—mirrors U.S. ad folks’ reinventions, blending care with creativity in France’s lawsuit-heavy scene.

Legal and Moral Questions: Clinet’s Open Book

The prud’hommes case, using Article L.1132-1, could set rules, as unfair firings don’t stand. Hérézie’s defamation suit against Le Monde faded, showing media’s #MeToo strength. Clinet’s case questions power: Late-night ad work can blur lines. Delarue said, “Sexism’s lazy, not creative.” With AI pushing diverse teams in 2025, skipping fairness risks falling behind.

Clinet’s Dixner move hints at a comeback without a public “sorry,” a tricky path post-#MeToo.

Voices That Shaped Clinet’s Story

Clinet before: “I hope my name lasts, but Droga’s will forever.” After: Silence, with friends saying “misunderstandings.” Accusers: “Creativity took my dignity.” Stillacci to AFP: “Mutual, for calm.” AACC: “Bad acts are done.”

France’s slow courts, unlike U.S. quick fixes, stretch pain but build strong changes.

Written by

Finn Morgan

Updated

1 month ago

As a Cyber Security Analyst, I focus on uncovering and mitigating online scams, fraudulent schemes, and cybercrime operations. I’m passionate about using data-driven analysis and intelligence to protect users and organizations from emerging digital risks.