The Paris prosecutor’s office has requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence along with a three-year probationary period and a €20,000 ($21,500) fine for actor Gérard Depardieu. This legal action comes after a tumultuous sexual assault trial that took place this week, centering around allegations from a film shoot in 2021. In addition to the requested sentence, the prosecutor has urged that Depardieu undergo psychological treatment and be placed on France’s sex offenders list.
This week’s hearing in Paris marked the first time that Depardieu faced court proceedings amid at least 20 public allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior against him. The trial was focused on accusations made by a set dresser and a third assistant director, alleging that various incidents of sexual assault occurred during the filming of Jean Becker’s The Green Shutters in 2021.
Furthermore, Depardieu may be standing trial again in the coming months concerning rape allegations brought forth by actress Charlotte Arnould, which date back to 2018. This potential trial follows a request from the Paris Prosecutor’s Office made over the summer and is currently navigating the judicial system.
During the court hearing, the set dresser, referred to as Amélie, recounted a disturbing incident where Depardieu allegedly seized her with his legs and made inappropriate comments, saying, “Come touch my big parasol, I’m going to shove it up your pussy.” The third assistant director, using the pseudonym Sarah, described how Depardieu had inappropriately touched her buttocks and breasts on two separate occasions while on set.
Depardieu has consistently denied these allegations, claiming that at the age of 76, he is “not into groping” and asserting that his actions were misinterpreted and never intended to be sexual. Additionally, several women who did not press charges provided testimonies, including one actress who alleged that Depardieu had inappropriately touched her during a photocall for Netflix’s Marseille.
Actress Fanny Ardant, who co-starred with Depardieu in films like The Women Next Door (1981) and Hello Goodbye (2008), testified in his defense, acknowledging his flaws but also highlighting his talent as an actor. Prosecutor Laurent Guy explained the rationale behind the sentence request, noting that the plaintiffs maintained their original statements during cross-examination, while Depardieu’s account had changed.
“We also have three eyewitnesses to the gestures made against Amélie at the crucial moment. This undeniably constitutes sexual assault,” Guy stated, emphasizing the strength of the evidence against the actor.
Under French law, a judge will now deliberate on the prosecutor’s sentence request. Prior to the trial, Depardieu could have faced a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and a €75,000 ($81,000) fine. This trial comes amid a series of high-profile sexual abuse trials in France, which have included cases involving public figures like Gisèle Pelicot and director Christophe Ruggia, highlighting a growing movement against sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.
Carine Durrieu-Deibolt, the lawyer representing Amélie, addressed these recent cases during her closing arguments, stating, “What is in common between all these affairs is silence. For decades, regarding Gérard Depardieu, everyone knew.” She pointed out that many women in the industry had remained silent about their experiences for fear of losing job opportunities.
Durrieu-Deibolt further stressed the collective responsibility within the film industry to protect vulnerable individuals, asserting, “Amélie wasn’t aware of the facts of the case brought against Gérard Depardieu by Charlotte Arnould. Nobody told her about it on the shoot, no one protected her, or distanced her from Gérard Depardieu.”
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications, not just for Depardieu but also for the ongoing discourse around sexual misconduct in Hollywood and the broader film industry.
