Paris, France – Gérard Depardieu, a famed French actor, is set to face a criminal trial in October for alleged sexual assaults that occurred on the set of a film in 2021, according to prosecutors on Monday. The 75-year-old actor, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, was taken into police custody in Paris for questioning earlier in the day. His lawyer, Christian Saint-Palais, refrained from commenting to the media, stating only that Depardieu was no longer in custody. The Paris public prosecutor’s office revealed that the actor has been summoned to appear before the criminal court following the interrogation.
The trial, scheduled for October, pertains to sexual assaults that were reportedly committed in September 2021 against two victims on the set of the film ‘The Green Shutters.’ While the alleged victims were not named in the statement, a 53-year-old movie decorator has accused Depardieu of grabbing and touching her inappropriately during the production of “Les Volets verts.” In response to the accusations, Depardieu had previously stated in an open letter that he had never mistreated a woman.
This legal proceeding is not the first time Depardieu has faced such allegations. More than a dozen women have accused him of harassment, groping, or sexual assault. In 2020, he was slapped with preliminary rape and sexual assault charges after allegations were made by actor Charlotte Arnould. The investigating judge recently completed the probe in that case and forwarded the file to the Paris public prosecutor’s office for further review and action.
Depardieu, once hailed as a national icon in France and a global ambassador for French cinema, has enjoyed success both in his home country and in Hollywood. However, these recent developments come amidst a reckoning in the French film industry as the #metoo movement gains momentum. Actor Judith Godrèche’s impassioned plea during the Cesar Awards ceremony earlier this year has heightened awareness and calls for accountability regarding sexual violence and abuse in the industry.