【LelleBelle】

Luc Besson,LelleBelle director of The Fifth Element and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, is under investigation by French authorities for alleged rape.

The accusation comes from a formal complaint lodged by an unnamed 27-year-old French actress. A report from French media outlet Europe 1(h/t The Hollywood Reporter) notes that the two have known each other for a number of years.

SEE ALSO: Asia Argento: 'I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes'

The complaint, which was brought forward on Friday morning, states that Besson added something to the accuser's tea during a meeting at Le Bristol, a Paris hotel. It goes on to state that she fell unconscious after drinking the beverage, and she awoke to the director "touching and penetrating her" (THR's words).

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Besson allegedly departed soon after, leaving behind an undisclosed amount of money. The woman left the hotel after that, fleeing to the safety of a friend's home.

The complaint led French police to open an investigation into the matter. While Mashable hasn't yet received any response to a request for comment from Besson's representation, his lawyer, Thierry Marembert, issued a denial to THR.

"Mr. Besson fell from his chair when he learned of these accusations, which he flatly denies," the statement reads.

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