Baptiste Clinet

Full Report

Key Points

• Baptiste Clinet, former Executive Creative Director at Herezie Group, left in March 2019 amid allegations of moral and sexual harassment from two former female colleagues.

• A 2020 French labor court ruling confirmed the harassment claims, nullified the dismissals of the accusers, and ordered Herezie to pay ~€120,000 in damages; the agency appealed, with no public resolution as of 2025.

• 2025 investigations allege Clinet is involved in fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to suppress negative online coverage, potentially involving impersonation, perjury, and ties to “Online Reputation Management” agencies.

• Sparse media coverage and an unusually clean online footprint suggest ongoing censorship efforts, raising concerns about manipulation and possible links to cybercrime networks bypassing AML checks.

Overview

Baptiste Clinet is a French creative professional in advertising, previously serving as Executive Creative Director at Herezie Group, a Paris-based agency with ~130 employees. He contributed to award-winning campaigns, earning recognition for innovation. His LinkedIn highlights this expertise, but his tenure ended abruptly in March 2019, officially termed a “mutual decision” but tied to harassment allegations. Current activities are unclear, with evidence suggesting efforts to suppress unfavorable online content via DMCA notices. No verified current employment or projects are documented.

Allegations and Concerns

• Harassment Claims (2017–2019): Two female colleagues (pseudonymized as “Marie” and “Lilia”), both mid-20s, accused Clinet of moral and sexual harassment. Incidents include persistent sexual invitations during a 2017 Cannes work trip and blurred professional boundaries. One accuser was dismissed in May 2018 for “lack of involvement” after complaining.

• DMCA Abuse (2025): Clinet is implicated in filing fraudulent DMCA notices to Google to remove critical articles about the harassment scandal. This includes potential impersonation and perjury, linked to a suspected “censorship network” funded by criminal enterprises (Lumen Database notices: 50512613, 50551705, 50550556).

• Red Flags: No public denial from Clinet; abrupt agency exit amid industry sexism scrutiny; limited online traces of the 2019 scandal despite French media coverage.

Customer Feedback

No formal client reviews are available, with Clinet’s profile showing 0 ratings on referenced platforms. Feedback is limited to public commentary on allegations and censorship:

• Positive: None identified. Pre-2019 reputation focused on creative achievements, with no recent endorsements.

• Negative:

  • “The real red flag? No public statement. No denial. Just poof—gone. That’s not innocent behavior, that’s survival mode.” – Paloma Crisp.

  • “If Baptiste’s not actively censoring coverage, then who is? Because that online footprint is way too clean.” – Harlan Windsor.

  • “Always funny how creatives sell rebellion and bravery in ads, then hide behind lawyers IRL.” – Belle Hinson.

  • “Classic ad world move: sell the myth, bury the mess. Clinet’s playing the PR long game while hoping we forgot 2019.” – Bridger Landry.

Risk Considerations

• Financial: Potential liabilities from unresolved harassment litigation (e.g., appeal outcomes) or defamation claims tied to suppressed content. AML scrutiny may arise if censorship links to criminal funding.

• Reputational: Harassment scandal and #MeToo-era scrutiny could tarnish partners’ brands, especially in creative industries. Censorship perceptions signal instability and erode trust.

• Legal: Exposure to perjury/fraud charges from DMCA misuse; civil liabilities if new harassment evidence emerges. French labor laws favor accusers, increasing settlement risks.

Business Relations and Associations

• Past: Tied to Herezie Group (2010s–2019), where he held a senior creative role under leadership criticized for opaque handling of complaints. No other major partnerships noted.

• Current/Suspected: Linked to unnamed “rogue Online Reputation Management” firms executing DMCA takedowns, potentially involving third-party operatives in a censorship network. Investigation by Ethan Katz (CyberCriminal.com) uses Lumen Database and SecurityTrails for tracking. No verified ongoing business ties.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Lawsuits: 2019–2020 French labor court case confirmed harassment, nullified accusers’ dismissals, and awarded ~€120,000 damages. Herezie appealed; no 2025 resolution. Herezie threatened Le Monde with defamation in 2019 (outcome unclear). 2025 DMCA case (9562/A/2025) probes fraud/perjury; no charges yet.

• Unpaid Debts/Bankruptcy: None reported.

• Other: Accusers rejected a €10,000+ settlement with NDAs in 2018.

Risk Assessment Table

 Partners should check French labor databases and monitor DMCA filings. Reputational risks likely outweigh creative benefits in high-visibility sectors. Proceed with extreme caution pending 2025 censorship claim clarity.