French Actor Gerard Depardieu Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

Strategic Insights -

French actor Gerard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. The 76-year-old was convicted of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and fined €29,040. He has been ordered to be registered in the national sex offender database. One of the victims expressed relief at the decision, stating she was "very moved" by the verdict.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gerard Depardieu, a 76-year-old French actor, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women, a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director, on a film set in 2021.
  • The actor was convicted of groping the set dresser and the assistant director, with one victim stating that Depardieu had groped her all over her body and made explicit comments, leaving her "terrified".
  • Two witnesses corroborated the set decorator's account, while Depardieu had been contradictory in his accounts, with Judge Thierry Donard stating the actor's explanation of events had been unconvincing.
  • Depardieu has been ordered to be registered in the national sex offender database, and his lawyer has stated that they will appeal the decision.
  • This verdict has been seen as a potential watershed for the MeToo movement in France, where the film industry has been slow to respond to accusations of sexual violence.
  • More than 20 women have accused Depardieu of misconduct, with some cases being dropped due to lack of evidence or the statute of limitations having expired.
  • The trial follows the mass rape case of Gisele Pelicot and the ongoing trial of ex-surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec in France's largest-ever child abuse case.
  • France's film industry has been criticized for its slow response to MeToo, with some dismissing it as an American export incompatible with French values.

Statistics:

  • 2 women accused Gerard Depardieu of sexual assault on a film set in 2021.
  • 20+ women have accused Depardieu of misconduct, with some cases being dropped due to lack of evidence or the statute of limitations having expired.
  • Depardieu was fined €29,040 and handed an 18-month suspended sentence.
  • 2 witnesses corroborated the set decorator's account.
  • Depardieu has been ordered to be registered in the national sex offender database.

Sources:

  • "French actor Gerard Depardieu found guilty of assaulting two women on film set". The Guardian.
  • "Gerard Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault on film set". BBC News.
  • "Depardieu convicted of groping women on film set". The New York Times.
  • "French actor Gerard Depardieu convicted of sexual assault". Al Jazeera.