Actress Julie Gayet, allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with the French President Francois Hollande, has been denied a seat as a cultural jury member by the government.
Several media reports claim that the cultural ministry blocked the 41-year-old French actress from the arts jury that chooses scholarships for the Villa Medici, a French academy in Rome, Italy. However, the ministry did not give any reasons for the action.
Eric de Chassey., the director of the Academy of France in Villa Medici, suggested Gayet's name for the jury of 2014 last month, reports BBC. "Her name was put forward by Eric de Chassey... but the minister has decided not to nominate her. The order has not been signed," the website of the academy stated.
Gayet came in to the limelight after her affair with Hollande was disclosed by the French magazine 'Closer.' The tabloid, in its seven-page report, claimed that she was in a relationship with the president and also published pictures of the two together. She has so far not commented on the relationship.
The photos, 'Closer' claims, show Hollande arriving in a black motorcycle helmet at Gayet's apartment on New Year's Day. He was also pictured leaving by scooter the next morning.
Hollande is already in a relationship with former journalist Valeri Trierweiler, who was hospitalised after the allegations by 'Closer.'
Addressing a press conference Wednesday, Hollande refused to comment on the allegations. He also said that he would clarify whether his 48-year-old partner Trierweiler, 48, would still remain the First Lady before a trip to the U.S. on February 11, reported The Independent.
"Everyone in his private life can go through ordeals," the 59-year-old President said. "That is what is happening to us. These are painful moments. But I have a principle that private matters are dealt with in private. This is neither the place nor the time to do so."
When asked about Trierweiler's health, Hollande responded saying she was "resting and I have nothing else to say."
