Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon denies sex abuse allegations

Gilbert Rozon, the founder and majority shareholder of Just For Laughs, has rejected all allegations of sexual misconduct against him in his first public remarks since being accused last October.

Rozontold a reporter for the TVA news agency outside the Montreal courthouse he apologizes if anyone felt his advances were out of place. CBC News has not interviewed Rozon.

"I never had sex with anyone against their will,"said the businessman, who founded one of the city's most famous summer festivals. "These stories are we'll see what the motivations are."

In response to the allegations,Rozonsaid he would sell his majority shares in the Just for Laughs company he founded in 1983.

He was in court on Wednesday testifying during legal proceedings initiated by Quebecor Inc., related to the selling of his shares.

Quebecorfiles injunction

Media giant Quebecor,which owns the TVA news agency, is claiming Montreal-based Just For Laughs company cannot be sold without its consent.

The media company filed a request for an injunction in Quebec Superior Court, demanding its 2012 partnership deal with the comedy festival be respected. Quebecor claims the agreement gives it a right of first refusal regarding the sale of the company.

A group of women announced in November they filed an application for a class action lawsuit against the businessman, claiming he "abused at least 20 victims over a period of 34 years,"between 1982 and 2016.

No charges have been laid, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.