Gérard Depardieu, the renowned French actor, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in Paris in 2021. The 76-year-old actor received an 18-month suspended sentence for the offenses. Depardieu denied the charges, claiming he did not forcefully grope a set decorator and an assistant producer during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” (“The Green Shutters”).
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However, the court determined that both women provided consistent and credible accounts of being groped by the actor, with witness testimony supporting their claims. The actor was not in court for the verdict or sentencing as he is currently filming in Portugal. His lawyer has stated that an appeal will be filed.
The accusations came from a 34-year-old set decorator and a 54-year-old assistant producer, identified in court as Amélie. They reported that Depardieu grabbed and groped them in August and September 2021.
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Amélie expressed her satisfaction with the decision, stating, “I am deeply moved, and I’m very happy with this decision. It is a victory for me, a step forward. Justice was served, I feel.”
During his testimony in March, Depardieu told the court, “I don’t see why I would grope a woman, her buttocks, her breasts.
I’m not somebody who rubs himself up against people on the metro.”
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Depardieu convicted for sexual assault
The two women did not initially report the offenses but came forward after Depardieu published an open letter in October 2023, stating, “Never, never have I abused a woman.” This prompted the set designer to report Depardieu to the police for alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexist insults. Dozens of protesters, mostly women, gathered outside the courthouse in March, condemning what they described as endemic sexism and impunity for sex offenders in French cinema and society. They expressed satisfaction that the actor was finally in court to face charges.
Depardieu, once a giant of French cinema, has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women in the movie industry. However, many of the claims surfaced long after the incidents, for which the actor cannot be prosecuted under French law. This trial marks a significant moment for France’s engagement with the #MeToo movement, especially concerning the definitions and understanding of assault within the film industry.
