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Gerard Depardieu is set to go on trial in Paris on Monday, with the French actor dealing with two allegations of sexual assault in the nation’s highest profile #MeToo case.
Depardieu is accused of attacking the ladies whereas capturing the 2021 movie Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).
Prosecutors say the actor made specific sexual remarks to, after which aggressively “groped”, two members of the film’s manufacturing crew. If convicted he might face 5 years in jail.
The 75-year-old denies the costs and mentioned in an open letter revealed final 12 months that he has by no means “abused a woman”. His lawyer requested for a delay to the trial early on Monday, citing the actor’s well being points.
“Gerard Depardieu is extremely affected and unfortunately his doctors have forbid him from being present at the hearing, which is why he will ask for a postponement to a later date so that he can attend”, Jeremie Assous instructed native media.
The trial marks a serious second for France’s #MeToo motion, with Depardieu being the best profile determine in French cinema to face accusations of sexual assault. The girls – who haven’t been named – say Depardieu made sexual feedback to them. They say he additionally “violently grabbed” and “groped” them.
Depardieu’s lawyer has accused the ladies of “false accusations”. He additionally claimed that one of many girls was trying to “make money” by claiming €30,000 ($32,500; £25,000) in compensation, Le Monde reported.
Since the allegations surfaced, Depardieu has turn out to be a digital pariah. He has not appeared in a movie since 2022, and he faces a second trial subsequent 12 months on expenses of raping the actress Charlotte Arnould twice at his residence in Paris. He denies the allegations.
Depardieu has additionally been accused of sexual assault by greater than a dozen different girls.
Despite the mounting allegations, the star has obtained sturdy messages of assist from some members of France’s inventive group. A bunch of greater than 50 actors, administrators and producers mentioned accusations in opposition to Depardieu have been “an attack on art itself” in a letter revealed final 12 months.
Signed by actors Charlotte Rampling, Carole Bouquet, Pierre Richard, and the singers Carla Bruni and Jacques Dutronc, the letter mentioned they might not “remain silent in the face of the lynching that has fallen upon [Depardieu]”.
French President Emmanuel Macron additionally attracted anger, after describing the actor as “the pride of France” final 12 months. Macron added that Depardieu was being subjected to a “manhunt”. Campaigners mentioned the feedback undermined efforts to defend girls from violence.
Actress Léa Seydoux referred to as Macron’s feedback “crazy”, including that it “gives a very bad image for France”.
Despite Macron’s present of assist, his then-culture minister Rima Abdul-Malak mentioned she would look into withdrawing Depardieu’s Legion d’Honneur after footage emerged of him making sexual feedback round girls in a 2018 documentary filmed in North Korea.
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