French actor Gérard Depardieu given suspended prison term for sexual assault

Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse.

French actor Gérard Depardieu was found guilty by a Paris court of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. He was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

The 76-year-old actor was found guilty on Tuesday of groping 54-year-old set designer Amelie K during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

Throughout the four-day trial, Depardieu denied the sexual assault accusations. He did, however, acknowledge using vulgar and sexualized language on the film set and admitted to grabbing a woman's hip during an argument, but denied that his behavior was sexual, the Associate Press said. He said he did not consider placing a hand on a person’s buttocks sexual assault and that some women were too easily shocked.

According to the set designer, the actor trapped her between his legs in a narrow corridor. She further stated that he grabbed her hips, then touched and started “palpating” her behind and “in front, around,” and proceeded to demonstrate the alleged actions.

The woman also claimed that the actor asked her to touch his private parts and said he wanted to rape her.

“He touched everything, including my breasts,” she said, as quoted by CNN. “I was terrified, he was laughing.”

Another woman detailed three separate incidents on the film set where Depardieu allegedly assaulted her by groping her buttocks and breasts.

As a result of the accusations, the public prosecutor demanded a guilty verdict for Depardieu, an 18-month suspended prison sentence, and a fine of 20,000 euros (around P1,237,200). The prosecutor strongly condemned the actor’s “total denial and failure to question himself.”

This sexual assault case is not the first legal trouble for Depardieu, who has faced public accusations and formal complaints of misconduct from over 20 women.

Many of these prior cases have not reached the courtroom. However, the actor may soon face further legal action. A rape accusation by Charlotte Arnould in 2018 has been requested a trial in August 2024.

Depardieu's prolific career spans over 250 films, including the Oscar-nominated film, Cyrano de Bergerac, Life of Pi, The Man in the Iron Mask, Jean de Florette, and Hamlet.

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