Paris – French film icon Gérard De Pardieu appeared in Paris this week and was accused of sexually assaulting two women in 2021. A live designer and an assistant producer (54) claimed that the actor caught and groped them while filming LES Volets Verts Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in August and September 2021.
The two women did not immediately report the alleged crime. But when the actor posted an open letter in the Le Figaro newspaper in October 2023, he said: “Never, I have never abused a woman,” the set designer went to the police station. She reported on Depardieu’s alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist insults.
The trial first opened in October, but Retirement due to poor health of depardieu. His lawyer told the court that the 76-year-old diabetic had recently undergone four-brain accompanying heart surgery.
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Medical experts later thought he was suitable for the trial, but limited the hearing to six hours a day, with a 15-minute pause if Depardieu needed them. The trial, which opened on Monday, is only two days in progress, but it could be longer if his health needs to rest in the lawsuit.
In recent years, DePardieu is a giant in French cinemas, more notorious than famous figures. More than a dozen women in the film industry accused him of sexual misconduct. Many claims surfaced a few years after the alleged incident, but under French law, actors could not be tried for them.
In a high-profile move, the actor left his native France for a few years about a decade ago and moved to Belgium, criticizing France’s tax increases.
Depardieu is open to admiration for Russia under the leadership of authoritarian President Vladimir Putin, who granted Russian citizenship in 2013.
Later he also became a citizen of Dubai.
DePardieu, who denies all charges against him, faces five years in prison and faces a fine of about $80,000 if he is convicted.
