French actor Gérard Depardieu found guilty of sexually assaulting two women
French actor Gérard Depardieu has been handed a suspended prison sentence of 18 months after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021.
Depardieu’s trial took place in March in Paris. He was accused of groping a set designer and an assistant on the movie Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) when they filmed the production in 2021. He denied the allegations.
The court deemed set designer Amélie to have given consistent evidence, while Depardieu’s version of events changed over time. According to BBC News, Amélie told reporters she was “very moved” by the verdict. They also convicted him of an assault on the assistant, Sarah. Depardieu was not present for the verdict due to work commitments in the Azores.
Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, the lawyer acting for the two women, told reporters outside of the French court: “It’s a victory for two women on a film set but it’s a victory for all the women behind this case and I’m thinking of all of Depardieu’s other victims.”
During the trial, Sarah detailed three incidents involving Depardieu’s behaviour while the movie was being shot. The first incident occurred when they were alone in a secluded area between the backstage section and the set.
In the second accident, Depardieu placed both of his hands on her breasts, and she responded by saying, “I said no; I was scared.” The third incident played out similarly, with Sarah telling Depardieu “no”.
Meanwhile, Amélie told the court that Depardieu caught her between his legs and held her by the hips after they had a minor disagreement.
In addition to his 18-month suspended sentence, Depardieu has also been fined €20,000 (£16,850) and placed on the sex offenders’ list.
Depardieu is yet to respond to the verdict.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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