A Paris court on Tuesday, May 13, found French actor Gérard Depardieu, 76, guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a 2021 film set. He received an 18-month suspended prison sentence. The actor was convicted of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” (“The Green Shutters”). Depardieu, who was not present for the verdict, was also ordered to register as a sex offender, marking a significant fall from grace for the actor who has been a prominent figure in French cinema for half a century. Approximately 20 women have accused Depardieu of assault or inappropriate behavior, but this was the first case to reach the courts.
In March, lead prosecutor Laurent Guy requested an 18-month suspended jail sentence for Depardieu, arguing that the assaults were “intentional” and that the sentence “takes into account the total lack of remorse” shown by the defendant. He also recommended that Depardieu undergo psychological treatment and be added to France’s sex offender registry.
Depardieu’s lawyer, Jérémie Assous, stated that he would appeal the conviction, adding, “The moment you’re accused of sexual assault, you’re automatically convicted.” Depardieu’s current location was not immediately known, but he was recently in the Azores, Portugal, working on a new film directed by his friend, actress Fanny Ardant, who has publicly supported him.
During the verdict, the presiding judge criticized the “excessive harshness” shown towards the plaintiffs by Depardieu’s defense team. Throughout the trial, the lawyers for the two plaintiffs expressed concerns about the courtroom tension and denounced the approach of Depardieu’s defense team. Assous had referred to the two women as “liars” and “hysterical,” claiming they were acting on behalf of “rabid feminism.”
The presiding judge stated that these remarks amounted to secondary victimization and ordered Depardieu to pay each woman €1,000 ($1,111). Carine Durrieu Diebolt, the set dresser’s lawyer, said, “This recognition of the mistreatment in court means a lot to us. I hope it will serve as a deterrent to aggressors.” Nearly 200 French lawyers signed an open letter during the proceedings, urging the judiciary to combat what they described as courtroom sexism, alleging that Depardieu’s lawyer had “used sexism and misogyny to his heart’s delight” to discredit the plaintiffs and their legal team.
Read more: Macron will Address the Nation on Wednesday Evening.
Durrieu-Dubolt commented on the verdict, stating, “It is the victory of two women, but it is the victory of all the women beyond this trial,” adding, “Today we hope to see the end of impunity for an artist in the world of cinema. I think that with this decision we can no longer say that he is not a sexual abuser. And today, as the Cannes Film Festival opens, I’d like the film world to spare a thought for Gérard Depardieu’s victims.”
The set dresser, who was present for the judgement, expressed relief after experiencing “an emotional rollercoaster.” She testified that Depardieu had pinned her down on set in 2021, stating that “he was very strong” and “groped” her. She also stated that Depardieu made “obscene remarks” and suggestions, boasting he could “give women an orgasm without touching them.” The 34-year-old plaintiff testified that Depardieu initially assaulted her when she accompanied him from his dressing room to the set, stating, “It was nighttime. he put his hand on my buttocks,” and that the actor assaulted her on two other occasions.
About The Author
