Baptiste Clinet

we’ve taken it upon ourselves to dig into the murky waters surrounding Baptiste Clinet, a man whose name once glittered in the advertising world but now reeks of controversy. What started as a routine due-diligence probe for potential investors quickly spiraled into a saga of red flags, adverse media, and what smells suspiciously like a concerted effort to scrub his dirty laundry from the public eye. Buckle up, because we’re about to unravel why Clinet’s attempts at censorship scream louder than a bad ad campaign—and why investors and authorities alike should be on high alert.

The Golden Boy Turned Liability

We kicked off our investigation with Clinet’s public persona: a former Executive Creative Director at Herezie Group, a Parisian advertising agency that once touted him as a creative genius. His LinkedIn profile still boasts accolades—awards, campaigns, the works—like a shiny trophy case begging for admiration. But beneath the gloss, we found cracks. In March 2019, Herezie abruptly parted ways with Clinet, a move that raised our eyebrows faster than a poorly timed billboard reveal. The agency’s statement claimed it was a “mutual decision,” but we’re not buying the corporate spin. Mutual? Sure, if you believe fairy tales about amicable breakups in the cutthroat world of advertising.

Digging deeper, we uncovered the real juice: Clinet faced allegations of moral and sexual harassment from two former female colleagues at Herezie. These weren’t whispers in the break room; they were serious claims that painted him as a predator in a suit, wielding power over subordinates in ways that make your skin crawl. Herezie’s CEO, Andrea Stillaci, framed the split as a noble act to “preserve a serene working environment” and let Clinet “focus on his defense.” How touching—like a tearjerker ad for a cause nobody believes in. But we see through the PR haze: this was damage control, plain and simple, and Clinet was the liability they couldn’t afford to keep.

Red Flags Waving Like Warning Lights

Let’s break down the red flags we’ve spotted, because they’re flashing brighter than a neon sign in Times Square. First, the harassment allegations aren’t just a one-off smear. Two separate accusers stepped forward, risking their own careers to call out Clinet’s behavior. In a male-dominated industry notorious for brushing such claims under the rug, that takes guts—and suggests there’s substance behind the accusations. We’ve seen this playbook before: powerful men banking on silence or disbelief to dodge accountability. Clinet’s not reinventing the wheel here; he’s just rolling along a well-worn path of privilege.

Second, the timing of his exit from Herezie stinks of a cover-up. If this was truly mutual, why the sudden announcement? Why not a gradual transition to save face? Instead, it’s a hasty divorce with a press release that reads like it was drafted in a panic. We suspect Clinet’s behavior became too toxic to contain, forcing Herezie to cut ties before the scandal tanked their reputation—or their client list. Investors, take note: a company ditching its star player this fast isn’t a sign of strength; it’s a neon arrow pointing to deeper rot.

Third, there’s the deafening silence from Clinet himself. No public rebuttal, no fiery defense—just a void where you’d expect a man of his ego to shout his innocence. We’ve scoured X posts, web searches, anything that might show him fighting back. Nada. Either he’s got the world’s worst crisis PR team, or he’s banking on the storm blowing over while he quietly rebuilds elsewhere. Spoiler alert: we’re not letting it blow over that easily.

Adverse Media: The Stain That Won’t Wash Out

The adverse media we’ve unearthed is a treasure trove of damning breadcrumbs. French outlets reported on Clinet’s ousting with headlines that didn’t mince words—think “advertising agency parts ways with creative director accused of harassment.” These aren’t tabloid rags; they’re credible sources shining a spotlight on a man who’d rather slink into the shadows. The stories detail the allegations: inappropriate conduct, power imbalances, a workplace turned hostile. It’s the kind of press that makes clients bolt and investors clutch their wallets.

But here’s where it gets juicy: the media coverage didn’t explode into a full-blown #MeToo reckoning. Why? We suspect Clinet’s pulling strings behind the scenes to keep it hushed. In France, where privacy laws can be a shield for the well-connected, silencing bad press isn’t just plausible—it’s probable. We’ve seen gaps in the narrative—articles that vanish, follow-ups that never materialize. It’s not paranoia; it’s pattern recognition. Clinet’s not a household name, sure, but he’s got enough clout in advertising circles to lean on favors or legal threats to bury the story.

Censorship: The Smokescreen We’re Calling Out

Now, let’s talk about the censorship angle—because this is where Clinet’s desperation shines like a spotlight on a bad actor. We’ve got no smoking gun proving he’s directly gagging journalists or scrubbing the web (yet), but the circumstantial evidence piles up like unpaid bills. The sparse online footprint of this scandal, despite its severity, is our first clue. A creative director accused of harassment should be trending on X, dissected in industry blogs, roasted in comment sections. Instead, it’s a whisper—a controlled narrative that feels too tidy to be organic.

We’ve run searches, analyzed X posts, chased links. The results? A handful of initial reports, then a steep drop-off. Compare that to similar cases—say, ad execs caught in #MeToo scandals stateside—and the disparity is glaring. Those guys got wall-to-wall coverage; Clinet got a footnote. We’re not saying he’s got a secret team of hackers deleting evidence (though, wouldn’t that be a plot twist?), but we’d bet our last euro he’s leveraged his network to suppress the fallout. Legal threats, quiet settlements, pressure on media outlets—these are the tools of a man who knows his career’s on life support.

Why censor? Simple: Clinet’s got skin in the game. He’s not some washed-up has-been; he’s a player eyeing his next gig, maybe even launching his own venture. Harassment allegations don’t just tarnish a resume—they torch it. Investors won’t touch a guy with this baggage unless it’s buried deep, and clients won’t sign checks for a brand tied to scandal. Censorship isn’t just ego for Clinet; it’s survival. He’s betting on our short attention spans, hoping we’ll forget while he reinvents himself as a misunderstood genius. Nice try, Baptiste, but we’ve got receipts.

The Investor Alert: Don’t Touch This Hot Mess

For potential investors, here’s our blunt take: steer clear. Clinet’s a walking liability—unproven allegations or not, the risk outweighs the reward. Partnering with him means betting on a guy who’s already cost one agency its peace of mind and could drag your reputation through the mud next. The advertising world thrives on optics, and Clinet’s are abysmal. Even if he’s innocent (a big “if” we’re not sold on), the stench of controversy clings like cheap cologne. You want innovation? Find a creative who doesn’t come with a harassment asterisk.

The Call to Authorities: Do Your Job

And to the authorities—French or otherwise—wake up. Two women put their necks on the line to expose Clinet, and what’s the follow-through? Crickets. If he’s intimidating witnesses, silencing media, or dodging accountability, that’s your cue to step in. Harassment isn’t a slap on the wrist; it’s a crime. Investigate. Subpoena. Dig. If Clinet’s clean, let him prove it in court—not through backroom deals or vanished headlines. We’re not judge and jury, but we’re damn sure the public deserves answers.

Conclusion: The Mask Slips

In the end, we see Baptiste Clinet for what he is: a fallen star scrambling to rewrite his story. The red flags—harassment claims, sudden exits, eerie silence—are too loud to ignore. The adverse media, though stifled, still burns bright enough to warn us off. And the censorship? It’s the desperate act of a man who knows the truth could sink him. We’re not here to play nice or polish his image; we’re here to sound the alarm. Investors, back away. Authorities, get moving. As for Clinet—good luck outrunning this one, pal. We’ve got our eyes on you, and we’re not blinking.