Paris – French film icon Gérard Depardieu appeared in court in Paris this week and was accused of sexually assaulting two women in 2021. A 34-year-old designer and 54-year-old assistant producer claimed that the actor shot “Les Volets Verts” (“Les Volets Verts”) in Paris on August and September 2, 2021.
The two women did not immediately report the alleged crime. But, after the actor published a public letter in the Lefigaro newspaper in October 2023, he said: “Never, I have never abused a woman,” the set designer went to the police. She reported on Depardieu’s alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist insults.
The trial first opened in October, but Retirement due to poor health of depardieu. His lawyer told the court that the 76-year-old diabetic had recently undergone four-brain accompanying heart surgery.
Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty
Medical experts later thought he was suitable for the trial, but limited the hearing to six hours a day, with a 15-minute pause if Depardieu needed them. The trial, which opened on Monday, is only two days in progress, but it could be longer if his health needs to rest in the lawsuit.
In recent years, DePardieu is a giant in French cinemas, more notorious than famous figures. More than a dozen women in the film industry accused him of sexual misconduct. Many claims surfaced a few years after the alleged incident, but under French law, actors could not be tried for them.
In a high-profile move, the actor left his native France for a few years about a decade ago and moved to Belgium, criticizing France’s tax increases.
Depardieu is open to admiration for Russia under the leadership of authoritarian President Vladimir Putin, who granted Russian citizenship in 2013.
Later he also became a citizen of Dubai.
DePardieu, who denies all charges against him, faces five years in prison and faces a fine of about $80,000 if he is convicted.
