French icon Gérard Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault in explosive court ruling: What is the case?

Paris: A French court has found veteran actor Gérard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). The verdict marks a significant moment in France's reckoning with sexual misconduct allegations involving powerful figures, long viewed through a different cultural lens than movements like #MeToo in the United States.

The 76-year-old actor received an 18-month suspended prison sentence following a trial that drew intense public and media scrutiny. The ruling has reignited national debate over accountability in the arts and signalled a possible shift in how France approaches sexual violence cases involving celebrities.

Who is Gérard Depardieu?

Depardieu, born in Châteauroux in 1948, is one of France’s most recognisable and celebrated actors. He left home at 16 for Paris and began acting in theatre before earning his breakout film role in Les Valseuses (1973). Over the decades, he became known for his versatility and emotional depth, appearing in more than 250 films and earning international acclaim.

He was nominated for an Oscar in 1991 for Cyrano de Bergerac, and won César Awards for that performance and The Last Metro. He was also named president of the Cannes Film Festival jury in 1992 and was awarded France’s top honours, including the Legion d’Honneur and the Ordre national du Mérite.

Beyond acting, Depardieu’s personal life has often made headlines — from tax exile controversies to his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who granted him citizenship in 2013. He later lost his National Order of Quebec after a documentary captured him making lewd comments on a visit to North Korea.

He has two children from his marriage to actress Élisabeth Depardieu, including the late Guillaume Depardieu, who died in 2008. The couple divorced in 1996.

What is he accused of?

Depardieu was charged with sexually assaulting two female crew members during the shooting of Les Volets Verts. The first woman, a 54-year-old set dresser, testified that he trapped her between his legs as she passed through a narrow corridor. She said he then groped her “behind and in front, around,” demonstrating the assault in court by motioning near her buttocks, hips and pubic area. She also claimed he grabbed her chest and used obscene language, including asking her to touch his genitals and suggesting he wanted to rape her.

The second accuser, a 34-year-old assistant, alleged that Depardieu touched her breasts and buttocks on multiple occasions during the production.

Both women, who remain anonymous as per standard media practice unless they consent to identification, described Depardieu’s behaviour as predatory and unsettling. One called him “a madman” who “took pleasure in frightening me.”

During the four-day trial held in March, Depardieu admitted to using vulgar and sexualised language on set and grabbing the first woman’s hips during a confrontation, but denied any sexual intent. He told the court: “I'm not like that.” He attributed his poor behaviour to the heat on set and his health, saying he had been in “a bad mood.”

“I understand perfectly if she's a bit upset. I am capable of trash talk... I don't have to talk like that, get angry like that, voila,” he added.

The court sided with the prosecution, which had requested the exact sentence imposed. The judge criticised Depardieu's “total denial and failure to question himself.”

Why is the case significant?

Depardieu's conviction is seen by many as a critical test for France’s version of the #MeToo movement, which has struggled to gain widespread traction. Unlike in the United States, where high-profile figures like Harvey Weinstein faced swift public backlash and legal consequences, French society has often appeared more resistant to confronting allegations against its cultural icons.

In 2018, dozens of French celebrities and intellectuals — including Catherine Deneuve — signed an open letter defending what they described as “men’s freedom to bother,” criticising #MeToo as a “puritanical wave.” Although Deneuve later walked back her stance, the letter reflected a cultural belief that artistic genius excuses transgressions and that accusations are sometimes viewed with suspicion.

“There’s this idea that if you're an artistic genius, you’re exempt from social accountability,” said French feminist Blanche Sabbah.

Sarah McGrath, CEO of Women For Women France, noted that the French justice system does little to protect victims and often leaves them financially burdened. “Victims are actually more likely to come out with debts of thousands of euros if they go through the justice system,” she said.

Recent cases, including that of Gisèle Pelicot — who publicly disclosed that her husband had drugged and allowed more than 50 men to rape her — are now seen as a turning point in France’s long-delayed #MeToo reckoning.

Other allegations

Depardieu’s legal troubles may not be over. He is currently under formal investigation for allegedly raping a 22-year-old actress at his home in 2018. That case was initially dropped due to lack of evidence but later reopened. In 2022, his attempt to have the investigation thrown out was rejected.

In 2023, the investigative news outlet Mediapart published accounts from 13 women accusing Depardieu of sexual assault or harassment between 2004 and 2022. In response, he wrote an open letter in Le Figaro, stating: “I have never abused a woman.”

Despite the mounting allegations, Depardieu retains supporters in French cinema. At his recent trial, actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant were seen backing him in court. President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, calling the actor “an immense actor” who “makes France proud” and condemned what he called a “manhunt.”

Meanwhile, a counter-petition of 50 French celebrities — including Carla Bruni — defended Depardieu in Le Monde, denouncing what they described as a “lynching” of one of the nation’s greatest actors.

What’s next?

Though he was not present at the sentencing, Depardieu may face additional legal proceedings in the months ahead. The 2018 rape case involving actor Charlotte Arnould remains open, with prosecutors pushing for it to proceed to trial.

(With inputs from AP)