French film icon Gérard Depardieu was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting two women during the production of the 2021 movie “Les Volets Verts.”
The 76-year-old actor, celebrated for a career spanning more than 250 films, was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence by a Paris court. He was also ordered to pay a total of 29,040 euros (about $32,350) to his two accusers and will have his name entered into the national sex offender registry.
The court, comprising three judges, found Depardieu guilty of groping a 54-year-old set decorator and a 34-year-old assistant on the set of “The Green Shutters.” The judges cited the “constant, reiterated and substantiated declarations” of both women and found Depardieu’s explanations “unpersuasive” and “not credible.”
Depardieu did not attend the sentencing. His lawyer, Jérémie Assous, announced plans to appeal.
Accusers Respond to the Verdict
The set decorator, who testified that Depardieu used his legs to pin her in a corridor before groping her, told reporters she was satisfied with the outcome.“I’m very moved. That’s a victory for me, really, and a big progress, a step forward. I feel justice was made,” she said Tuesday.
Her attorney, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, described the decision as “the victory of two women, and it is the victory of all women beyond this trial.”
“Today we hope to see the end of impunity for an artist in the world of cinema,” she said, calling on the film industry to “spare a thought for Gérard Depardieu’s victims,” especially as the Cannes Film Festival has started.
The second accuser, an assistant on the film, testified that Depardieu groped her on three separate occasions.
The panel of three judges criticized the defense’s approach, stating that the accusers faced an “aggressive” strategy “based on comments meant to offend them.” The court concluded that remarks by Depardieu’s lawyer aggravated the harm to the accusers and warranted higher fines.
Assous, Depardieu’s lawyer, said it was regretful that the court “considered that questioning the accusations is an additional assault ... which means that now the defense, even in this type of trial, is no longer accepted.”
Some Express Support for Depardieu
Some in the French cinema community have rallied around Depardieu, including actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant, who attended the trial in support. French media reported Depardieu was recently filming with Ardant in Portugal’s Azores region.Depardieu’s legal challenges may not be over. In 2018, actress Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home, and prosecutors requested in August 2024 that the case proceed to trial.
For decades, Depardieu has been a towering figure in French cinema, known for his commanding presence and versatility. However, his recent conduct, including obscene remarks documented during a 2018 trip to North Korea, has fueled renewed scrutiny.
