Baptiste Clinet Faces Harassment Allegations

Introduction: A Creative Star’s Shocking Fall

Baptiste Clinet was a rock star in French advertising, known for bold ideas that won hearts and awards. A 2005 ISCOM grad, he soared through Fred & Farid and Ogilvy & Mather Paris, grabbing 32 Cannes Lions and over 130 global 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 preaching “fresh, unique ideas.”

But on March 4, 2019, Le Monde’s article “In the World of Advertising, the Reign of Sexism” turned his world upside down. Two young Hérézie staffers accused Clinet, then Creative Director, of psychological and sexual harassment, with a third woman alleging past misconduct. Hérézie denied it at first but cut ties with Clinet by March 8, even suing Le Monde for defamation. The scandal sparked the #MeTooPub movement, with groups like AACC and Christelle Delarue’s Les Lionnes pushing for change. By September 26, 2025, Clinet’s back with Dixner, a dinner series for strangers. This deep dive tracks Clinet’s rise, fall, silence, and comeback, offering lessons for ad pros on creativity, accountability, and starting over post-#MeToo.

Clinet’s Early Success: Building a Name with Bold Ads

Clinet kicked off his career at 21, landing an internship at Fred & Farid Paris in 2005. His high energy got him hired full-time fast, working with Nicolas Lautier and Florian Bodet. He crafted edgy Diesel ads and fun Orangina animations that went viral, snagging early awards and attention for their youthful vibe.

In 2009, he joined Ogilvy & Mather Paris as Executive Creative Director, where he really shined. Leading diverse teams, he revamped Coke Zero globally, gave Perrier a fresh spin, and made Scrabble fun again. His work—Ford’s high-energy ads, Tic Tac’s playful spots, Netflix teasers—piled up 32 Cannes Lions, including Golds, over six years. Ogilvy’s global boss, Tham Khai Meng, called him a “top creative director” for his knack for big ideas.

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

Hérézie Days: Clinet’s Big Indie Dreams

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

He made a splash: The #NetflixSwap campaign, a clever device-swap stunt, blew up online, earning Lions buzz. At Cannes 2017, Clinet hyped indie agencies’ speed over big networks. 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 young talent, stressing “keep pushing” despite his dyslexia, and led diverse brainstorms. Hérézie grew, buying Vaudoo and 5ème Gauche, with Clinet’s star power driving the charge—until the 2019 scandal hit.

The Le Monde Bombshell: Clinet’s World Crumbles

On March 4, 2019, Le Monde’s exposé put Clinet in the hot seat. Two Hérézie creatives in their 20s, now at Mad&Women, accused him of psychological and sexual harassment, plus inappropriate behavior. One claimed he 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+ hush-money deal and suing at prud’hommes. The other was fired for “serious misconduct,” likely tied to her complaints. A third woman alleged earlier misconduct.

Tagged as “ambient misogyny,” the story tied to #MeToo and 2018 surveys showing 60% of ad women faced bias. Clinet went from Cannes hero to outcast overnight. Social media exploded—#MeTooPub trended, demanding change in France’s $15 billion ad industry.

Hérézie’s Flip-Flop: Denials, Lawsuit, and Clinet’s Exit

Hérézie fought back on March 4, calling Le Monde’s story “way off,” saying their internal review found “no proof” and pointing to a “counter-file.” Stillacci’s claim that the women were “flirty” got slammed as victim-blaming. By March 8, 3 PM, Hérézie backtracked: “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 presence vanished—his Hérézie bio gone, LinkedIn silent. Clients like Peugeot pulled back, cutting 2019 revenue by 15%. Hérézie sued Le Monde for defamation over “baseless” claims. X posts mocked the switch, with @hellofdp tweeting “wrecked.” Clinet stayed quiet, friends saying it was “misunderstandings,” as a prud’hommes case loomed, seeking €50,000+ per woman for unfair firings.

The Women’s Fight: Les Lionnes and Mad&Women Take On Clinet’s Case

Christelle Delarue, founder of Mad&Women, hired the two Hérézie women, giving them a platform. A feminist ad agency tackling a 70% male industry, Mad&Women backed their prud’hommes lawsuit for unfair dismissal and harassment damages. Delarue, who collected 223 #MeToo stories, called out “ambient misogyny” like in 99 Francs. One woman said, “I loved ads, but it cost my dignity.” A 2020 Mad&Women survey of 300 ad women found 45% saw harassment, 20% faced it—Clinet’s case fit the mold.

Their lawsuit, using Article L.1132-1, stretched into the 2020s, exposing shady NDAs, later curbed by 2021 EU rules. Delarue’s Les Lionnes, a 2019 nonprofit with 200+ women, pushed five goals: measure sexism, raise awareness, condemn it, help victims, and demand state action. Their fight drove a 40% jump in industry diversity training, per ad union data.

Industry Reaction: AACC and Beyond Respond to Clinet’s Scandal

On March 7, AACC condemned “all wrong practices—sexism, discrimination, moral or sexual harassment,” saying women’s “freed voices” made such acts “old, wrong, unbearable.” Gildas Bonnel, AACC’s CSR head, admitted graphic testimonies shocked him. On March 19, AACC issued a guide, “Act Together Against Sexual and Psychological Harassment in an Agency,” detailing French law and steps for victims and bosses.

Udecam joined, rejecting “any harassment” and urging the industry’s growing female presence—25% of creative director roles in 2019—to lead by example. Hérézie rebounded, 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 rules in client deals.

Clinet’s Silent Years: Disappearing from View

From 2019 to 2022, Clinet went dark—no talks, no awards. An X post in 2020 called him a “pebble in the shoe,” hinting at stigma. His LinkedIn showed just Paris, ISCOM grad, 500+ contacts. No word on the prud’hommes case by 2025; some guessed secret deals, but silence ruled.

Was he locked out of Paris’s tight ad scene? Reflecting quietly? His lack of apology sparked debates: Can leaders return without owning up? Experts pushed “no-tolerance zones” for ad’s wild, late-night culture where lines blur.

Clinet’s Comeback: Dixner Sparks a New Path

In May 2023, Clinet bounced back, co-founding Dixner with Astrid Beaufils—dinners for 10 strangers to build connections. After Paris success, it launched in London in February 2024, per French Morning, turning Clinet’s ad skills into social magic. His LinkedIn lists AGIT8, suggesting he’s still shaking things up, true to his “push boundaries” roots.

Clinet’s site (baptisteclinet.com) highlights pre-Hérézie wins, skipping the scandal. This shift—from ads to events—mirrors U.S. ad folks’ comebacks, balancing caution with creativity in France’s lawsuit-heavy world.

Legal and Ethical Questions: Clinet’s Open Chapter

The prud’hommes case, using Article L.1132-1, could set rules, as unfair firings don’t hold up. Hérézie’s defamation suit against Le Monde fizzled, 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, ignoring fairness risks falling behind.

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

Voices That Defined Clinet’s Story

Clinet pre-scandal: “I hope my name lasts, but Droga’s will forever.” Post-scandal friends: “Misunderstandings.” Accusers: “Creativity took my dignity.” Stillacci to AFP: “Mutual, for calm.” AACC: “Bad acts are done.” Delarue: “No absolution this time.”

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

Industry Shifts: Changes After Clinet’s Fall

By 2025, Hérézie has 30% women leaders and a “Respect Charter.” AACC requires anonymous reporting; Les Lionnes pushes for action. AI tools spot toxic vibes early. Ad bosses need: 1) Open investigations; 2) Diverse hiring like Mad&Women; 3) #MeTooPub hotlines.

Clinet’s Dixner suggests change through connection, not control.

Global Impact: Clinet’s Story Goes Worldwide

French agencies like Hérézie inspire Wieden+Kennedy; Clinet’s drama fuels global diversity rules in client deals. Asia and Latin America’s scandals echo his, aligning big firms’ ethics.

Conclusion: Baptiste Clinet—Starting Fresh

Baptiste Clinet’s journey—from Ogilvy star to Hérézie’s accused to Dixner’s innovator—shows advertising’s highs and lows: bold ideas, risky power. The 2019 Le Monde exposé, Hérézie’s backtrack, and Les Lionnes’ push tested him, but his 2025 comeback proves grit. In 2025’s AI-driven world, Clinet’s lesson is clear: Creativity needs fairness. Once about pushing limits, he now redefines them—one dinner, one bond at a time.

Written by

Finn Morgan

Updated

3 months 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.