French Actor Gérard Depardieu Faces Trial Over Allegations of Sexual Assault on Film Set

PARIS (AP) — French actor Gérard Depardieu is set to face trial in Paris over allegations of sexual assault involving two women during a 2021 film shoot. He is accused of groping a set dresser, 54, and an assistant director, 34, while filming “Les Volets Verts” (“The Green Shutters”). Depardieu has denied these claims.

Prosecutors say the actor made lewd comments and physically assaulted the women, including an incident where he allegedly trapped one of them with his legs before groping her in front of crew members. Both women have filed formal complaints, but the Associated Press does not disclose the names of sexual assault victims without their consent, and neither woman has chosen to be identified.

Originally scheduled for October, the trial was postponed due to Depardieu’s health issues. He has undergone a quadruple heart bypass and has diabetes, but a medical expert has cleared him to stand trial. Depardieu’s lawyer, Jérémie Assous, emphasized that his client is eager to present his side in court.

“He has always rejected all accusations,” Assous stated on French radio RMC. “It’s important for him to defend himself and explain his actions to the judges.”

One of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, expressed confidence in the strength of their case, noting that four more women who allege they were also assaulted by Depardieu will testify during the trial.

This marks a significant moment as it is the first time Depardieu has been brought to trial over such accusations. While he has faced public and formal complaints from over 20 women in the past, most cases were either dismissed due to a lack of evidence or fell outside the statute of limitations.

In a separate case, actress Charlotte Arnould has accused Depardieu of two rapes that allegedly occurred in August 2018. Prosecutors requested this case go to trial in August 2024, but a magistrate has yet to make a determination.

In a recent open letter published in Le Figaro, Depardieu stated, “Never, but never, have I abused a woman,” asserting his innocence against the allegations.

As the trial unfolds, public interest remains high. This case is just one part of a broader conversation surrounding accountability in the film industry. Notably, surveys show that nearly 70% of women in entertainment report facing harassment, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.

For more details on similar cases and the ongoing discussions around sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond, you can reference the Harassment in the Film Industry Report.

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