When French actor Gérard Depardieu walks into a Paris courtroom on Monday, he won’t just be facing two women who accuse him of sexual assault — he’ll also be confronting a nation long criticized for dragging its feet in confronting sexual violence, par.
Gérard Depardieu won’t just be facing two women who accuse him of sexual assault when he walks into a Paris courtroom on Monday. The renowned actor will also be confronting a nation long criticized for failing to address sexual violence — particularly when committed by its most powerful figures.
Depardieu, 76, one of France’s biggest screen stars, is accused of assaulting a set dresser and an assistant director during the 2021 filming of ‘Les Volets Verts’ (‘The Green Shutters’). While more than 20 women have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct, this is the first time one of those cases has gone to trial.
It is also the most prominent post- #MeToo -era case in France, testing whether a country famed for its culture of seduction is prepared to hold its cultural titans accountable.
Prosecutors say Depardieu trapped one of the women with his legs before groping her waist and breasts in front of witnesses. In an interview with investigative outlet Mediapart, the 54-year-old set dresser said Depardieu shouted on set that he “couldn’t even get it up” because of the heat, then told her: “Come and touch my big parasol. I’ll stick it in your (nether regions).” She said he then grabbed her forcefully and had to be pulled away by bodyguards.
A second woman, a 34-year-old assistant director, alleged she was groped both on set and in the street. The plaintiffs’ identities have not been disclosed to protect alleged victims of sexual violence.
Depardieu has denied all allegations.
In an open letter published in Le Figaro in Oct. 2023, he wrote: “Never, but never, have I abused a woman. To think that I have hurt someone or made them feel uncomfortable is intolerable to me.
