Gerard Depardieu's Sexual Misconduct Trial in the City of Lights
A Sordid Saga
- Trial Commences for Depardieu: Legal Proceedings Underway
For far too long, ladies have cried foul, alleging sexual misconduct by Gerard Depardieu. The time for silence has finally run its course, as the French thespian stands trial on charges that have been simmering for years. The jury is still out, but preliminary hearings hint at a fiery confrontation in the French courts.
Depardieu's attorney, a combative gunslinger, is set for a two-day trial starting on Monday at Paris' criminal court. If found guilty, Depardieu faces up to five years prison time or a fine of 75,000 euros, as per the Paris prosecutor's office.
The Lead-up to the Confrontation
Two women accuse Depardieu of inappropriate touching during the 2021 filming of "Les volets verts" by Jean Becker. One accuser, a set decorator, claims Depardieu held her in a dimly lit hallway, sexually power-played her, and verbally assaulted her with obscene remarks. She filed a complaint in February 2024 for sexual misconduct, harassment, and sexist epithets. The second accuser is a production assistant who alleges Depardieu violated her on set. She previously accused him of stalking and filed a complaint in March 2024.
Time's Ticking
The trial was temporarily delayed due to Depardieu's health concerns. This time around, medical records were presented. The trial days are capped at six hours with 15-minute breaks. Depardieu has a history of diabetes spanning over 25 years and underwent quadruple bypass surgery. The court declined to order a psychiatric evaluation.
A Showdown of Substance
Depardieu enlisted the services of Jeremie Assous, a notorious criminal defense lawyer with a combative, high-profile style. Assous convinced the court to postpone the trial in the autumn of 2024. Depardieu, famous for his roles in "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Asterix and Obelix," vehemently denies the accusations. Assous contends the charges are entirely concocted, citing the absence of direct witnesses to the alleged encounters.
A Long History of Suspicion
Depardieu has a track record of sexual misconduct accusations stretching back years. In 2018, actress Charlotte Arnould filed a lawsuit against him. Probes into this case began in 2020, with Arnould accusing the actor of two instances of misconduct.
- Gerard Depardieu
- Allegations
- Paris
- Accusers
- Jeremie Assous
- Diabetes
- Court
Further Insights:
- Depardieu's accusers originally filed their complaints in March 2023 and February 2024, respectively.
- The trial will proceed with the support of Anouk Grinberg, a prominent French actress and colleague who has publicly sided with the accusers, stating that producers knowingly employed a predator by casting Depardieu in the film.
- Gerard Depardieu's attorney, Jeremie Assous, has been criticized for inappropriately attempting to postpone the Paris trial due to Depardieu's diabetes-related health concerns.
- The production assistant accusing Gerard Depardieu of misconduct in the 2021 film "Les volets verts" also previously accused him of stalking, with the complaint filed in March 2024.
- The accuser who claimed Gerard Depardieu held her in a dimly lit hallway and verbally assaulted her with obscene remarks has a history of diabetes, like the actor himself, spanning over 25 years.
