Renowned French actor Gérard Depardieu was found guilty on Tuesday by a Paris court of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). The court handed him an 18-month suspended prison sentence along with a fine of 20,000 euros (about $22,200).
The victims, a 54-year-old set decorator named Amélie and a 34-year-old assistant director, testified that Depardieu groped them multiple times during filming in Paris. Amélie recounted how Depardieu trapped her between his legs and groped her buttocks, genitals, and breasts while uttering vulgarities. The assistant director described being touched inappropriately on three occasions while escorting him from his dressing room to the set.
Depardieu, 76, denied the allegations, claiming his actions were misunderstood and that he never touched the women inappropriately. His defense described the accusers as “liars” and accused them of promoting “rabid feminism.” He was not present for the verdict as he is currently filming in Portugal and plans to appeal the ruling.
This case is one of the highest-profile #MeToo trials in France, where Depardieu has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct over the years. The trial has sparked wider discussions about the culture of silence in French cinema and the slow progress of the #MeToo movement in the country.
Depardieu may face further legal proceedings related to a separate rape allegation. Meanwhile, the court also recommended psychological treatment for him and his inclusion on France’s sex offender registry.
The verdict marks a significant moment in holding a major French film icon accountable amid growing calls for justice for victims of sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.