Gerard Depardieu Fails to Appear at Sexual Assault Trial Due to 'Health Issues'
On Monday, Gerard Depardieu did not appear at the first court hearing in the sexual assault case in which he is a defendant. Gerard Depardieu's lawyer, Jérémie Asous, asked for a six-month postponement of the court hearing after he said that the actor could not attend due to health problems, Le Monde reports.
Depardieu was detained and interrogated on 29 April at a Paris police station. On 1 May, the Paris prosecutor's office charged the actor with sexual assault.
The famous French actor is accused in a criminal court of raping two women, which may have taken place on the set of the 2021 film The Green Shutters. The names of the women accusing him have not been made public.
One of the lawsuits against Depardieu on charges of sexual assault in 2007 has expired.
In December 2023, France 2 TV channel aired a documentary called ‘Gerard Depardieu: The Fall of an Ogre’. It contained footage of the actor making sexist comments, which again drew attention to the accusations and reignited the debate about sexism in French cinema.
The film also features the story of actress Emmanuelle Debevere, who was the first to accuse the actor of sexual assault. She died in hospital on 7 December.
Former Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak stated that the actor's behaviour disgraced France, noting that he could be deprived of the Legion of Honour, the country's highest award. However, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he would not withdraw the award. At the same time, a wax statue of Depardieu was removed from the Musée Greven in Paris.
Depardieu himself denies any allegations of rape and sexual abuse. Some French artists even defended the actor.
On 22 August 2024, the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office brought a case against the French actor to court - he is accused of raping French actress Charlotte Arnault. The case was opened in 2020 at Arnaud's request. She spoke about two incidents in August 2018, when Depardieu allegedly raped Charlotte in his home. Arnoux was 22 years old at the time.
Depardieu is also on the list of those who threaten Ukraine's national security because he holds Russian citizenship. According to this status, broadcasting companies are prohibited from broadcasting works featuring the actor, and tours by people on the list are also prohibited.