Actor, Gérard Depardieu, Accused of Shocking Crimes

French film icon Gérard Depardieu is now facing trial in Paris after being accused of sexually assaulting two women on the set of his 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

According to reports from the Associated Press, the 76-year-old actor allegedly groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during filming. While Depardieu has been accused by more than 20 women over the years, this marks the first time he’s appeared in court to face criminal charges.

The identities of the two women involved in this case have not been made public. Depardieu has continued to deny the allegations.

“We will be able to show in an impartial, objective and incontestable manner that all of the accusations are lies,” said his attorney, Jérémie Assous, speaking to reporters outside the courtroom. “The truth will be obvious and the truth is on our side.”

Prosecutors allege that during filming, Depardieu restrained one woman with his legs and groped her waist and breasts in front of others on set. Witnesses claim he also used crude language before being pulled away by his bodyguards. The second woman accuses him of groping her both on set and on the street.

At the time of the alleged assaults, Depardieu was already under investigation for rape in a separate case.

This high-profile trial adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding one of France’s most celebrated actors, with the outcome likely to have significant cultural and legal implications in the country’s ongoing reckoning with sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, support is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or at rainn.org.