Gerard Depardieu, the celebrated French actor, has requested a delay for his impending sexual assault trial, which is slated to commence in Paris on Monday. The actor’s plea for postponement stems from health concerns, as confirmed by a representative to the French news agency AFP.
Depardieu’s attorney, Jérémie Assous, stated that the actor is currently in a fragile state, making it impossible for him to attend the trial proceedings. “He is extremely affected, and unfortunately, his doctors have advised against his presence at the hearing,” Assous elaborated. The trial was initially set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Paris time on the scheduled day.
As of now, Depardieu’s legal team has yet to provide further comments on the situation when approached by Variety for clarification.
The actor faces serious allegations involving two separate incidents of sexual assault that reportedly occurred during the filming of Jean Becker’s “The Green Shutters” (Les volets verts) in the South of France in late 2021. The charges came to light after Depardieu was taken into police custody on April 29 earlier this year, leading to his summons to appear in court on Monday. If found guilty, the actor—who has been a significant figure in French cinema, with an illustrious career featuring over 150 films, including classics like “Cyrano de Bergerac”—could face up to five years in prison and a hefty fine of €75,000.
The accusations first emerged in a letter dated February 23 from Amelie K., who served as a set decorator on “The Green Shutters.” She accused Depardieu of sexual assault and harassment during filming on September 10, 2021. In her account, she recounted overhearing the actor make inappropriate remarks and described a distressing encounter where he allegedly grabbed her, pulled her close, and made lewd comments while groping her.
After the incident, Amelie sought assistance from two colleagues as Depardieu left the scene, flanked by his bodyguards. Although she reported the matter to the production manager, who subsequently urged the actor to apologize, Depardieu allegedly made disparaging comments about her throughout the remainder of the filming.
In a statement released by the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, a spokesperson noted that Amelie had hesitated to file her complaint but felt compelled to act after hearing Depardieu publicly claim that no incidents had occurred during production. She also indicated that she was not the only victim of his alleged misconduct.
Another woman, Engela W., who was working as Becker’s assistant on the same film, filed a complaint on March 21 this year, detailing her own allegations of sexual assault by Depardieu. She claimed he had inappropriately touched her on multiple occasions, despite her expressing her discomfort with his advances.
In light of the charges against him, Depardieu’s attorney has maintained that the actor is innocent, suggesting that the evidence and witnesses presented in court will prove the accusations to be unfounded. Assous described the claims as a smear campaign motivated by financial gain, with demands for compensation ranging from €6,000 to €30,000 from the civil parties involved.
In addition to these allegations, Depardieu is also facing a separate case stemming from accusations made by actress Charlotte Arnould, who filed charges of rape and sexual assault against him in 2018. The Paris public prosecutor’s office has called for a formal trial regarding these allegations, which reportedly took place in August 2018.
Furthermore, another complaint from actress Helene Darras, who accused Depardieu of groping her during a film shoot in 2007, was dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. This string of allegations against Depardieu has significantly tarnished his reputation, especially after a report from French investigative news website Médiapart revealed that 13 women had accused him of various forms of sexual misconduct.
Depardieu has staunchly denied all allegations, emphasizing in a letter to Le Figaro last year that he has “never abused a woman.” Once a dominant figure in the film industry, his career has suffered greatly as a result of these controversies, with only a minor role in an Italian horror film titled “Twins” completed in recent years. The ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny surrounding him represent a watershed moment in the context of the #MeToo movement in France, and the actor’s future in cinema remains uncertain as he prepares to navigate this challenging chapter.
