The most prominent case involves events from 2018. Actress Charlotte Arnould (born in 1995) claims that Depardieu raped her twice, on August 7 and 13, 2018. Interestingly, these incidents were allegedly caught on security cameras in Depardieu's home.
Charlotte revealed that Depardieu was a friend of her father. Her mother had asked the actor to give career advice to her daughter, but things turned out differently. Arnould's story is just the tip of the iceberg. Last year, 13 more women accused Depardieu of sexual assault. These accusers include not only actresses but also makeup artists and other crew members from a total of 11 films in which the amorous Frenchman starred between 2004 and 2022.
Due to the accusations, Depardieu faced criticism from authorities. State television channels refused to air his films, and a former French culture minister even suggested stripping him of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award. Depardieu returned the medal before any decision was made. Fifty prominent French figures, including actor Pierre Richard and singer Carla Bruni, stood up for the star.
In January, one case against Depardieu was dismissed due to the statute of limitations, but in February, two more accusations emerged from his former assistant and a film production designer. In April, Depardieu was summoned for questioning regarding these new allegations. The situation is serious for the actor, and now everyone is waiting to see how this case will conclude.
