In Paris, a pivotal trial unfolded on Wednesday involving the acclaimed French actor Gérard Depardieu, who stands accused of sexual assault. During the proceedings, a woman alleged that Depardieu, aged 76, inappropriately groped her on multiple occasions while on the set of the film “Les Volets Verts” (“The Green Shutters”) in 2021. Depardieu has steadfastly denied these allegations.
The trial’s third day was significant, featuring testimony from the younger accuser, a 34-year-old assistant. She recounted three distinct incidents where Depardieu allegedly groped her. The first encounter occurred as they headed toward the film set when she was briefly alone with him. “Out of the blue, he put his hand on my butt,” she disclosed, admitting that she was too shocked and petrified to react at the time.
The assistant further described a second incident where Depardieu unexpectedly placed his hands on her breasts, stating, “I said ‘No.’ I was scared.” She also detailed a third similar occurrence where she reiterated her objection. She reported these incidents to her manager, which led to friction with Depardieu, but initially minimized the severity to maintain her employment, attempting to handle the situation alone. Eventually, she filed a formal complaint to support the other reported victim and because she wanted the truth to be known.
In court, Depardieu emphatically denied any wrongdoing, asserting, “I’m not like that.” He speculated that his reputation for being “vulgar, crude, rude” might have skewed perceptions but insisted on his respect for people. Furthermore, he explained that he is typically accompanied by aides and his bodyguard on set, implying it was unlikely to find himself alone with any crew members.
The trial is set to continue on Thursday, with a ruling to be issued later. If found guilty, Depardieu faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($81,000).
As part of the proceedings, a witness recounted being present during one of the alleged assaults on Tuesday. She described seeing the set dresser “stuck in-between the legs” of Depardieu during an argument. Realizing it was an assault, she reported it to film management, subsequently leading to further disclosures about Depardieu’s conduct.
In addition to the current allegations, three more women provided testimonies. A journalist and a former costume designer claimed past incidents of sexual assault by Depardieu in 2007 and 2014, though these were either not formally complained about or were covered by the statute of limitations. Furthermore, comedian Sarah Brooks accused Depardieu of similar behavior a decade ago but did not report it then due to fear, given his fame.
This trial marks the first court appearance concerning Depardieu out of more than 20 misconduct claims, some of which were abandoned due to insufficient evidence or expired legal timelines. Despite the allegations, some within the French film industry, like actress Fanny Ardant, have expressed support for Depardieu, recognizing societal shifts in behavioral standards over recent years.