Open letter denounced the ‘lynching’ of French film star Gerard Depardieu, who is charged with rape and is facing a litany of other sexual assault claims.
More than 50 French performers, writers and producers published an essay defending film star and national icon Gerard Depardieu amid growing scrutiny of his behaviour toward women during his five-decade career.
Advocates for sexual abuse victims expressed dismay at the outpouring of support.
Depardieu was handed preliminary rape and sexual assault charges in 2020 following allegations from actor Charlotte Arnould, and has been accused by more than a dozen other women of harassing, groping or sexually assaulting them. Depardieu denies wrongdoing, and called the essay ‘’beautiful”.
Published Tuesday in the conservative-leaning Le Figaro, it was signed by figures including former first lady and singer Carla Bruni, Depardieu’s former partner Carole Bousquet, and actors Pierre Richard, Charlotte Rampling and Victoria Abril.
Two dozen of the 56 signatories were women.
