French Actor Gérard Depardieu finds himself at the center of a police inquiry as reports from French media outlets detail his summoning by Parisian authorities. Allegations from two women accusing him of sexual assault during film productions have prompted this legal scrutiny.
The 75-year-old actor, known for his roles in “Green Card” and “Cyrano de Bergerac,” was taken into custody on Monday morning, as reported by Broadcaster BFMTV and the daily Le Parisien.
The Paris police force remains tight-lipped, deferring inquiries to the Paris prosecutor’s office, which, in turn, offers no comment “at this stage” pending further evaluation of potential charges and directions. A statement emailed to The Associated Press states, “We have no information to communicate or confirm before having assessed any eventual charges and directions.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, glimpses of the actor’s legal representation emerge, with lawyer Christian Saint-Palais observed entering a police station in the 14th district of Paris. However, he refrained from engaging with inquiries from the French press, citing procedural constraints and expressing regret over premature comments made by others involved.
In response to the unfolding situation, Mr. Depardieu denies any wrongdoing, reiterating his stance in an open letter published in Le Figaro last October. In the letter, Mr. Depardieu writes, “To the media court, to the lynching that has been reserved for me, I have only my word to defend myself.” He alleges the interaction was consensual, writing, “A woman came to my house for the first time, walking lightly, going up to my room of her own free will. She now says she was raped there. She came back a second time.”
The allegations levied against Mr. Depardieu span several years, with reports suggesting incidents dating back to 2014 and 2021 involving claims of groping during filming. One alleged victim, a 53-year-old movie decorator, recounts an incident during the production of “Les Volets Verts,” where she asserts Mr. Depardieu’s inappropriate physical advances.
Mounting Allegations
This recent development adds to a string of accusations against the actor, with more than a dozen other women alleging instances of harassment, groping, or sexual assault. Notably, Mr. Depardieu faced preliminary charges of rape and sexual assault in 2020 following allegations brought forward by actress Charlotte Arnould.
According to both Deadline and BBC News, an investigation conducted by French news outlet Mediapart revealed that aside from the current allegations, 13 additional women have previously accused the actor of sexual harassment or assault. These accusations stem from various incidents that occurred during the production of 11 movies between 2004 and 2022, involving “actresses, makeup artists, and production staff.”
Actress Hélène Darras filed a sexual assault complaint in 2020, alleging that Mr. Depardieu groped and propositioned her during a 2007 film shoot. She alleged Mr. Depardieu assaulted her during the filming of the movie “Disco.” However, French prosecutors dismissed her claim due to the statute of limitations.
Spanish journalist and author Ruth Baza also filed a criminal complaint in her home country, claiming that Mr. Depardieu raped her in 1995 in Paris. Still, it remains unclear whether it will proceed to trial.
Although Mr. Depardieu has faced legal investigations and questions related to the sexual assault accusations against him, he has not been convicted or faced significant legal consequences at this time.
The Epoch Times contacted the Paris Police Department and lawyers for Mr. Depardieu for a statement but did not receive a response by press time.
From The Epoch Times
