Popular Actor Found Guilty Of S£xually Ass¶ulting Two Women, Gets 18-Month Sentence
Popular Actor Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Two Women, Gets 18-Month Sentence
The 76-year-old actor was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison term by a Paris court for groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant.
Legendary French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts (“The Green Shutters”) in 2021.
The 76-year-old actor was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison term by a Paris court for groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant.
The trial was seen as an important test for how French society and its film industry address sexual misconduct allegations involving high-profile figures.
Depardieu, who denied the accusations, was not present at the hearing.
During the trial in March, Depardieu rejected the allegations, asserting that he is “not like that.”
He acknowledged using vulgar and sexualised language on set and admitted to grabbing the set dresser’s hips during an argument but denied any sexual intent behind his actions.
The set dresser described the incident, claiming that Depardieu “pincered” her between his legs in a narrow corridor and began groping her behind and chest.
She also testified that he used an obscene expression to suggest she touch his private parts and implied that he wanted to rape her.
She noted that his calm behaviour in court was in stark contrast to his conduct on set.
The assistant, the second plaintiff, testified that Depardieu groped her buttocks and breasts on three separate occasions during the filming. Both women have chosen to remain anonymous.
The public prosecutor had requested an 18-month suspended sentence and a €20,000 fine for the actor, criticising his “total denial and failure to question himself.”
While some figures in the French film industry, including actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant, expressed support for Depardieu, the actor has been accused of misconduct by more than 20 women.
However, only the sexual assault case has gone to trial, with other cases being dropped due to a lack of evidence or statute of limitations. Depardieu is also facing an active rape accusation from actress Charlotte Arnould, with prosecutors seeking to bring the case to trial in August 2024.
Depardieu, a towering figure in French cinema for over five decades, is known for his extraordinary versatility and has appeared in over 250 films, solidifying his place as one of the most recognised actors in French history.
