French actor Gérard Depardieu gets 18-month suspended sentence for sexual assault
A French court has sentenced actor Gérard Depardieu to an 18-month suspended prison term after convicting him of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021.The ruling was delivered by a Paris court on May 20. Depardieu, who is 76 years old, was absent during the announcement of the verdict and will now be registered on France’s list of sex offenders.Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations against him.The charges stem from incidents that occurred during the 2021 production of ‘Les Volets Verts’ (The Green Shutters), a film directed by Jean Becker.Following the court’s decision, Depardieu’s legal team confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.In the past few years, the acclaimed actor has been the subject of numerous sexual misconduct claims, with around 20 women publicly accusing him. However, this was the first case to proceed to trial.In May 2023, Depardieu, 74, already indicted on rape and sexual assault charges in connection to a 2018 case, was accused of sexual misconduct by 13 women in an investigative report published by 'Mediapart' and quoted by 'Variety'.The accusations were made by female actors, make-up artists and production staff, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, and allegedly occurred during the making of 11 films released between 2004 and 2022.None of these 13 women took legal action against 75-year-old Depardieu, according to a statement provided to 'Variety' by the Paris prosecutor's office.Depardieu's legal representation Cabinet Temime denied the accusations back then and released a lengthy statement saying the actor "doesn't intend on addressing" the article "which appears to mix very diverse topics, including some very subjective appreciations and/or moral judgments".He "formally denies all of the accusations that could be subject to criminal law", the statement had said.(with inputs from syndicated feed)
A French court has sentenced actor Gérard Depardieu to an 18-month suspended prison term after convicting him of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021.
The ruling was delivered by a Paris court on May 20. Depardieu, who is 76 years old, was absent during the announcement of the verdict and will now be registered on France’s list of sex offenders.
Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations against him.
The charges stem from incidents that occurred during the 2021 production of ‘Les Volets Verts’ (The Green Shutters), a film directed by Jean Becker.
Following the court’s decision, Depardieu’s legal team confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.
In the past few years, the acclaimed actor has been the subject of numerous sexual misconduct claims, with around 20 women publicly accusing him. However, this was the first case to proceed to trial.
In May 2023, Depardieu, 74, already indicted on rape and sexual assault charges in connection to a 2018 case, was accused of sexual misconduct by 13 women in an investigative report published by 'Mediapart' and quoted by 'Variety'.
The accusations were made by female actors, make-up artists and production staff, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, and allegedly occurred during the making of 11 films released between 2004 and 2022.
None of these 13 women took legal action against 75-year-old Depardieu, according to a statement provided to 'Variety' by the Paris prosecutor's office.
Depardieu's legal representation Cabinet Temime denied the accusations back then and released a lengthy statement saying the actor "doesn't intend on addressing" the article "which appears to mix very diverse topics, including some very subjective appreciations and/or moral judgments".
He "formally denies all of the accusations that could be subject to criminal law", the statement had said.
(with inputs from syndicated feed)
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