Gérard Depardieu: French actor to be tried over sexual assault allegations

Gérard Depardieu, the renowned French actor, faces trial over allegations of sexual assault, as confirmed by Paris prosecutors. The accusations stem from incidents reported by women who worked with Depardieu on film sets in 2014 and 2021. Depardieu, 75, was summoned for questioning on Monday and subsequently released. His lawyer maintains his denial of the accusations. The actor is set to appear in court in October 2024 concerning the alleged assaults during the filming of “Les volets verts” (The Green Shutters) in 2021.

One of the women involved described feeling trapped and powerless when Depardieu allegedly assaulted her on the film set. These recent allegations add to previous legal issues, including charges of raping actor Charlotte Arnould in 2018. Another investigation into Arnould’s case has concluded, awaiting further recommendations from the prosecutor’s office. However, a case brought by actor Hélène Darras was dropped due to the statute of limitations.

Depardieu has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing, asserting that any relationships he engaged in were consensual. Despite facing accusations from multiple women, he maintains his innocence, stating in a public letter last year that he has never abused a woman. With a prolific career spanning over 200 films and international recognition, Depardieu’s legal battles have drawn significant attention.

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