French actor Gérard Depardieu was found guilty in a sexual assault case. He received an 18-month suspended sentence for groping two women on a Paris film set in 2021. The 76-year-old actor, known for roles in Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card, had initially denied the allegations.
So, here are all the details we’ve learned about the allegations against Depardieu and his sentence.
Gérard Depardieu sexual assault case explained
The Oscar-nominated actor was convicted by a Paris court for sexually assaulting two women in 2021. Now, Gérard Depardieu’s sentencing includes a suspended sentence of 18 months. Additionally, his name will be added to the national sex offender registry, and he has to pay a €29,000 fine.
The judge has also ordered Depardieu to pay monetary compensation to his two victims. The Valley of Love star will pay damages of 15,000 euros ($17,000) to one of the victims. Meanwhile, he will pay €14,040 ($15,592), including any payment for medical consultation, to the other victim. Additionally, Depardieu was ordered to pay each victim €1,000 for secondary victimization. (via The New York Times)
Reports revealed that Depardieu assaulted two women, including a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director. The incident reportedly took place during the shooting of his feature film, Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris.
The set dresser, whom the court records refer to as Amélie, talked to the press after the verdict. She said, “For me, this is a victory. Justice has been done.” Amélie also stood before the court and recalled how Depardieu harassed and assaulted her on the movie set. (via The Guardian)
Amélie’s lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, said the incident should be a stark reminder to “end impunity for cinema artists.” She noted, “I’ve heard some actors recently still supporting Depardieu. Now with this verdict, no one can say Gérard Depardieu is not a sexual predator, and that’s very important. Today, on the first day of the Cannes Film Festival, I want the cinema world to think of the victims of Gérard Depardieu and to speak of those victims.”
On the other hand, Gérard Depardieu’s lawyer, Jérémie Assous, noted that he would appeal against the verdict.