Gisele Pelicot, who became a feminist icon by publicly testifying over the mass rapes she endured, and rapper-turned-fashion designer Pharrell Williams were among 589 people awarded France's top civic honour on July 13, reported AFP.
The announcement was made in France's official journal ahead of the country's national Bastille Day celebrations. Both Pelicot and Williams were both named knights of the Legion of Honour on a list announced ahead of France's July 14 national day.
Pelicot, 72, earned international tributes for her courage in testifying at a French trial in 2024 against her former husband, who drugged her and arranged for her to be raped by dozens of men over a decade.
Her testimony raised awareness around rape and gender-based violence, and ultimately changed rape laws in France. She has been named on lists of the world's most influential people by international media.
However, Pelicot has remained silent since the trial. Her lawyer says she is concentrating on writing a book giving her side of the mass rape story, which is to be released in 2026.
Meanwhile, American musician Williams, 52, made his name as a rapper and singer but earned a second fortune as a music producer and after designing clothes and accessories for several brands. He has been the Louis Vuitton men's creative director since 2023. Since joining Vuitton, Williams has relocated to Paris with his wife and four children.
Williams' recent Paris show attracted a host of international celebrities, including singers Jay Z and Beyonce, film directors Steve McQueen and Spike Lee, and football and basketball stars.
Actor Lea Drucker, veteran singer Sylvie Vartan, writer Marc Levy and Auschwitz deportee Yvette Levy, 99, were also among the figures awarded the Legion of Honour along with a host of former ministers, academics and top legal names.
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