François-Xavier Roth’s criminal investigation has been discontinued.

According to Van Magazine, the Cologne public prosecutor’s office had insufficient grounds for suspicion.

The conductor was first accused of Sexual harassment in May 2024 with a report by Le canard enchainé alleging that seven musicians accused the conductor of sexual harassment, while one woman accused him of sexual assault. According to the report, Roth sent seven musicians “unwanted messages” that included dick pics.

Roth told the magazine, “If I have gone too far, I would like to apologize to those I may have hurt.”

The conductor later refrained from conducting the Gürzenich Orchestra following allegations of sexual misconduct and said, “Due to the publication of an article in the press that reveals that in the past I sent inappropriate text messages to musicians, the orchestra that I lead will investigate the behaviors described and collect information on the allegations. For that reason, I have decided not to conduct the Gürzenich Orchestra for now, in order to allow the investigations to proceed in a calm manner. I apologize to all of those whom I could have hurt.”

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