TV personality and influencer Carel Pedre has been arrested in Florida following an alleged domestic violence incident.
Pedre, 45, was booked into a Broward County jail on December 21 on one count of battery, which authorities classified as an alleged domestic violence case, according to sheriff’s records reviewed by The Haitian Times.
Pedre is the founder of Chokorella, one of Haiti’s largest media companies. Following news of his arrest, the organization released a statement confirming the incident.
“It is important to note that an arrest does not automatically result in charges, nor does it imply guilt,” the statement said. “We have full confidence in the justice system and are allowing it the time and space required to carry out its work.”
Pedre, who has more than 900,000 followers on Instagram, has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
Just a day before his arrest, Pedre shared a video celebrating Haiti’s qualification for the World Cup. In the clip, he proudly displayed a special shirt marked with the date November 18, the day Haiti secured its spot in the tournament.
A well-known media figure in Haiti, Pedre began his career as a radio host in Port-au-Prince before going on to host the country’s top talent competition. His profile rose internationally following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
During the disaster, Pedre streamed messages and footage from the ground, becoming one of the earliest direct sources of information about the unfolding crisis.
“It was practically the first source of direct information about what was happening on the ground,” he said during a 2015 TEDx Talk. “I wanted to show audiences that Haiti is not just a country of poverty and struggle, but one of resilience, beauty, and hope.”
In recognition of his efforts, Pedre received both the Humanitarian Shorty Award and the Change Maker Award in 2010.
The case remains under investigation.
