Gerard Depardieu Denies All Accusations on Sexual Assault Trial: ‘I Am Not a Person Who Would Grope in the Metro’

On his second day in court at Paris, the French actor Gerard Depardieu refuted allegations of sexual misconduct brought forth by two female coworkers – a set designer and an assistant director – who had collaborated with him on the production of “The Green Shutters” in Southern France during 2021.

The 76-year-old actor stated that he’s not someone who would fumble around in the metro,” said his lawyer, Jeremy Assous, added that their client is being targeted in a “conspiracy,” as reported by FrancetvInfo.

Due to the charges against him, renowned French film actor Depardieu, often seen as a symbol of France’s cinematic legacy with more than 150 films under his belt including masterpieces like Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s “Cyrano de Bergerac”, faces a potential imprisonment term of five years and a fine of €75,000.

On “The Green Shutters” production, Amelie K., a set decorator, has accused Gerard Depardieu of sexually assaulting and harassing her on September 10, 2021. Amelie K. claims she heard Depardieu make inappropriate comments, and alleges that one day, as she passed him sitting in a corridor, he grabbed her, drew her towards him, positioned himself to prevent her from moving, and massaged her waist, hips, and chest while making lewd remarks. In response to these accusations, Depardieu stated in court that he only held onto “her hips to prevent falling.

On a Friday, the day was sweltering and sticky. This man, tipping the scales at 150 kg, found himself in a sour mood. A woman, both attractive yet reserved, seemed to be eyeing him oddly, engrossed in her phone. As reported by AFP and Sattelifacts during the trial coverage, he shared this observation. The man was irritated by her actions, and they were embroiled in a heated conversation when he almost lost his footing. When questioned about the alleged lewd remark, Depardieu joked, “By ‘raunchy,’ do you mean something like ‘cat’? I say ‘cat’ frequently, even to myself. I find it amusing!

Another woman named Engela W., who was an assistant to Becker during “The Green Shutters,” claimed that Depardieu had sexually assaulted her on August 31, 2021. This alleged incident included Depardieu touching her buttocks in the street, and later on set, he is said to have touched her breasts, with another instance of him touching her buttocks again at a later time. EbMaster has reached out to Depardieu’s lawyer, Jérémie Assous, for comment regarding the trial’s final decision.

Yesterday, Depardieu’s legal representative shared with French radio station RMC that their client wishes to reveal the truth since he has been falsely accused. Furthermore, they expressed that the situation is expected to shift from a damning case against Gérard Depardieu to one that will favor him instead.

Since December 16, 2020, the renowned French actor has faced charges related to rape and sexual assault accusations made by actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018. Yesterday at the Paris court, both Arnould and fellow actor Anouk Grinberg, who collaborated with Depardieu on “The Green Shutters” and has backed female accusers of him, were present. However, Grinberg was escorted out of the courtroom yesterday following an audible comment she made.

The court hearing, originally set for October 28th, had to be rescheduled because of the actor’s health issues.

In August, the Paris prosecutor’s office called for a court trial against Gérard Depardieu over accusations of digital rape and sexual assault that supposedly took place on the 7th and 13th of August in 2018. Now, it is up to the examining judge to determine how to proceed with the case.

In April 2023, French news outlet Médiapart released a report detailing allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against actor Gérard Depardieu. These accusations sparked a significant moment within the #MeToo movement in France. Depardieu firmly denied all these charges, and in October 2024, he penned a letter to Le Figaro newspaper stating, “I have never inappropriately abused a woman.

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2025-03-25 20:19