Overview:
Richelle Robinson, the woman at the center of the domestic battery case against Haitian media personality Carel Pedre, filed a sworn affidavit stating she does not want to pursue prosecution and denied being in a romantic relationship with him — a claim that contradicts past social media posts showing them together Pedre allegedly telling officers she was his live-in girlfriend.
The woman at the center of a domestic violence case involving Haitian media personality Carel Pedre told a Florida court this week that she does not want him prosecuted and denied the two were romantically involved — a statement that appears to contradict their previously public relationship. The affidavit also runs contrary to the arresting officers’ report saying Pedre allegedly described the woman as his live-in girlfriend.
In a sworn affidavit of non-prosecution filed Jan. 8 in Broward County Circuit Court, Richelle Robinson stated she did not fear Pedre, did not want to relive the Dec. 21 incident that led to his arrest, and wished to “put this behind me and move on with my life.”
“Carel has never become physically aggressive with me,” Robinson wrote. “I do not feel fear for my safety when I am around Carel. I do not need protection from Carel.”
Robinson also wrote that the two were “not in a dating relationship,” adding that they were never married nor ever lived together, and that she maintained her own residence. The affidavit was filed by Pedre’s attorney, Jeremy McLymont.
Screenshot from Richelle’s page
However, that characterization of their relationship differs from how it had previously been presented publicly as well as Pedre telling officers they lived together. For months leading up to Pedre’s arrest, Robinson’s social media accounts featured numerous photos and videos of the two together — including moments where she cut his hair at a barbershop, celebrated Haitian cultural events with him and referred to him affectionately in captions. In one widely shared clip, Robinson, who is of Jamaican ancestry, draped herself in the Haitian flag while posing alongside Pedre. Many in the Haitian community interpreted that scene as symbolic of romantic partnership.
Just days before the affidavit and after the arrest, Robinson posted videos of her in a black oversized sweatshirt emblazoned with “1804,” the year Haiti became the world’s First Black Republic, that is very similar to a top Pedre has worn. The image led to more speculation that she was wearing Pedre’s shirt.
Screenshot from Richelle’s page
Robinson’s filing now raises questions about how much weight the court — and immigration authorities — will place on her current statement, especially given her role as the alleged victim and primary witness. Pedre’s own alleged statements may also come to bear.
Pedre remains in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the initial arrest in Tamarac, Fla., on a domestic battery charge. His immigration case, triggered by the arrest and local cooperation with ICE detainer requests, continues independently of the criminal proceedings.
Dispute over a social media post
According to police reports, the incident began as an argument over a social media post that Pedre allegedly wanted removed because it showed his behind. The argument escalated when Pedre reportedly took Robinson’s phone and left the apartment. A nude Robinson followed him outside in an attempt to retrieve the phone. She later told authorities she had been pushed to the ground, while a neighbor claimed to witness Pedre choking her. Pedre denied both accounts.
Robinson now refutes both versions, writing in her affidavit that Pedre “did not throw me to the ground or choke me.”
Also now contradicted by Robinson are Pedre’s own words during an initial interview with deputies responding to the 911 call. During that early morning fracas, Pedre allegedly told the officer that he and Robinson lived together and had been dating for six months.
Pedre’s description of their relationship is part of the reason the officer arrested Pedre on suspicion of domestic battery, applicable to partners in a relationship.
After his arrest and transportation to the Broward County jail, Pedre posted bond the following day, but ICE had already issued a detainer. Within 48 hours of the arrest, he was transferred into immigration custody, where he remains.
His not guilty plea in the criminal case stands.
Complicating an already fraught case
The affidavit from Robinson adds a new layer to a high-profile case that has drawn widespread attention in the Haitian diaspora and online communities. Supporters and critics alike have debated whether Pedre — known for his digital media platform Chokarella and his influence in Haitian pop culture — is being targeted unfairly or is being held accountable for past alleged behavior.
Some may view Robinson’s affidavit as a potential turning point in the criminal case, but legal experts caution that the State Attorney’s Office is not obligated to dismiss charges solely because a victim no longer wishes to prosecute.
The Haitian influencer’s detention highlights how arrests are now triggering “Amazon Prime-style” deportations, revealing a system-wide shift that puts immigrants at risk of removal before their cases are heard.
“This happens often in domestic violence cases,” said Frandley Julien, a Miami-based immigration attorney not connected to Pedre’s case, to The Haitian Times in a December 2025 interview. “But even if the criminal case is dropped, the immigration consequences can persist — sometimes permanently.”
Pedre’s arrest, detention and, now, the conflicting narratives about his relationship with Robinson have fueled wider debates about celebrity, privilege and the treatment of women in Haitian communities in the U.S. Some social media users say Pedre is being unfairly maligned. Others argue that the situation reflects a broader pattern of minimizing women’s accounts, even when they come forward under difficult circumstances.
Back in Port-de-Paix, where Pedre was born, reactions to the case have been mixed. While some continue to support him as a proud son of the region, others have expressed disappointment or indifference, pointing to a perceived disconnect between Pedre’s rise in media and his relationship to his hometown.
Whether the affidavit will alter the trajectory of Pedre’s domestic violence case or his ICE immigration status remains to be seen. Prosecutors have not issued a public statement since the document was filed. Pedre’s immigration proceedings — a parallel system where outcomes often come faster and with fewer opportunities for appeal — are not visible to the public at this time, though that has not curbed speculation about his immigration status and family life. ICE has not returned messages from The Haitian Times about Pedre’s detention as of this writing.
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