French actor Gérard Depardieu faced trial in a Paris court on Monday, charged with sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021. His attorney asserted that all allegations are “false.”
Depardieu has been accused of inappropriate conduct by approximately 20 women, but this is the first case to reach the courtroom.
Prosecutors claim that the assaults occurred during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” (The Green Shutters) in 2021, involving two women whose identities remain undisclosed. They allege that Depardieu groped one woman on set, pulling her towards him and restraining her with his legs while making lewd comments and touching her waist, hips, and breasts.
According to prosecutors, three witnesses observed this incident. They also allege that the second woman was groped both on the film set and in a public area.
Depardieu’s lawyer maintains that the claims against him are unfounded.
“This trial will provide an opportunity to confront all accusations with the truth,” stated lawyer Jérémie Assous. “We will demonstrate in a fair, objective, and irrefutable manner that all allegations are false.”
As he arrived at the courthouse, Depardieu calmly walked past the gathered journalists, making eye contact with the cameras but refraining from speaking, before entering the courtroom and engaging in conversation with a few fellow actors.
“Truth is on our side,” Assous told the media.
Depardieu, clad in a dark suit without a tie, took a seat on a stool facing the court as the trial commenced in the early afternoon.
He gingerly approached the witness stand, visibly pained as he walked, to verify his identity. The two plaintiffs were also present in the courtroom.
A prominent figure in French cinema, Depardieu has been confronted with an increasing number of sexual assault allegations in recent years.
At 76 years old, Depardieu has steadfastly denied any misconduct, and this marks the first case in which he is standing trial.
The trial, anticipated to last up to three days, was originally scheduled for October but was delayed due to Depardieu’s health issues.
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A lawyer representing one of the women informed Reuters prior to the trial that her client had been apprehensive about coming forward against Depardieu.
“There’s a sense of fear because he is a giant in the film industry,” stated Carine Durrieu-Diebolt. “It feels like a David versus Goliath situation, and they are concerned about potential retaliation since they all work in cinema but at a much lesser scale than Depardieu.”
If convicted, Depardieu could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 ($81,200).
This trial represents the most high-profile #MeToo case in the media sector to be adjudicated in France.
Outside the courthouse, dozens of protesters gathered, chanting “We believe you” to express their support for the two plaintiffs.
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