What is the actor accused of?
According to the Independent, Gérard is accused of assaulting two women. He allegedly harassed costume designer Amélie and director's assistant Sarah. Both claim that the incidents occurred in a Paris mansion while working on the film 'Les volets verts' (2022).Amélie stated that Depardieu "grabbed her roughly," pinned her with his legs, and touched her waist, stomach, and chest. Sarah reported repeated touches on her buttocks and degrading comments from him.
Source:
imdb.com
Depardieu admitted that he should have mentioned this incident earlier during the police questioning. He also insists that his actions were not malicious.Gérard DepardieuI grabbed her by the hip to avoid slipping because I was so upset by the heat, it was Friday, close to the end of shooting, I was very tired.
The Actor Apologizes
Accusations are nothing new for Depardieu. About 20 women have claimed harassment by him in recent years.In 2023, he even published a letter in Le Figaro, where he apologized to those he might have offended but denied being a rapist:
He specifically mentioned actress Charlotte Arnould, who claimed in her blog on the social network "X" that Depardieu raped her in 2018. The actor insisted there was no coercion between them:Gérard DepardieuI have never, never offended a woman. To offend a woman is like kicking your own mother in the stomach. Yes, I have been provocative, eccentric, sometimes rude. If I have offended or shocked anyone, I apologize. But I am not a rapist and not a predator.
She came up to my room of her own free will. Now she says she was raped there. She came back a second time. There was never any coercion, violence, or protest between us.
The End of a Legend?
Depardieu, known for his roles in "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar," has always been a controversial figure—eccentric and provocative.Now, his words in court and past accusations put his reputation in question. Do you think the trial will change how his fans, who have admired the actor's talent for decades, perceive him? Or will his justifications and apologies maintain his place in the hearts of viewers?
One thing is clear: the accusations will undoubtedly affect his acting career. Fortunately for him, by the time he turned 76 in December 2024, he had appeared in enough films to leave a mark on the history of cinema, regardless of the trial's outcome.
But will people want to revisit these films if Gérard is found guilty? This question concerns not only the audience.
Our editorial team at zoomboola.com reminds that in 2023, one of the French state-owned telecom companies decided to end its collaboration with the artist and also cancel the broadcasts of any films featuring him. According to the publication Public, the reason was the accusations of sexual assault against the actor.
