Meet the Controversy Surrounding Gérard Depardieu
Gérard Depardieu (74), the renowned French actor, finds himself in another storm of controversy. The initial wave hit in April of this year when 13 women leveled sexual assault accusations against him. Despite his firm denial, no charges were filed. Now, the actress Hélène Darras is adding fuel to the fire, alleging Depardieu sexually harassed her during the filming of "Disco" in 2007. She was just 26 at the time.
The Paris public prosecutor's office is assessing if this allegation fits within the statute of limitations, confirming this to Franceinfo on Wednesday. Depardieu's lawyers have remained silent on the matter.
Hélène Darras' Perspective
Darras, who had previously testified against Depardieu as a witness, confided to AFP: "It took me a year to shift from testifying to reporting. Going to a police station to tell a policeman that you've been touched inappropriately isn't easy. It takes time to consider it."
Her prime motive now is to "counter Depardieu's defenders who downplay our accusations." She was referring to the 13 women whose allegations were made public in April 2023.
The April 2023 Allegations
These women accused Depardieu of inappropriately behaving towards them. They alleged he touched them inappropriately or harassed them with inappropriate comments during the filming of 11 movies spanning over the last 20 years. The inappropriate incidents often occurred in public and on the sets of these 11 films, released between 2004 and 2022. Although no legal actions were taken in this context, the case gained traction soon after.
Though Depardieu maintains his innocence, he faced preliminary investigation on suspicion of rape and sexual assault as early as 2018. Since then, more alleged victims have come forward.
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