French actor Gerard Depardieu received an 18-month suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021, marking a major #MeToo case in France.
A Paris court on Tuesday found veteran French actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a 2021 film set and sentenced him to an 18-month suspended prison term. The 76-year-old was not present at the hearing and is reported to be filming in Portugal.
The court concluded that Depardieu failed to grasp the concept of consent or the psychological harm his behaviour caused, with Presiding Judge Thierry Donard citing the actor’s lack of understanding of the "traumatic consequences" for the victims. He also ordered Depardieu to be placed on the sex offender registry.
This was the highest-profile case linked to the #MeToo movement in France. One of the victims, 54-year-old set decorator Amelie K, testified that Depardieu groped her and made sexually explicit remarks while trapping her between his legs. “I was terrified, he was laughing,” she told the court.
Depardieu, who has appeared in over 200 films including Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac, denied any wrongdoing. He argued that placing a hand on someone’s buttocks did not constitute sexual assault and claimed that some women were too easily offended. His legal team confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.
In addition to this case, Depardieu faces a separate rape investigation following allegations by actress Charlotte Arnould. Over a dozen women have made accusations against him, though not all have pursued legal action.
The trial has underscored a generational divide in French society regarding sexual violence. While some prominent figures, such as Brigitte Bardot and Carla Bruni, publicly defended Depardieu, women's rights advocates see the ruling as a pivotal shift.
“It’s truly a victory and a step forward. We’re making progress,” said Amelie K after the verdict.
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On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared his intention to lift all sanctions currently imposed on Syria, asserting that the restrictions had achieved their intended goals.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a streamlined cabinet focused on economic reform and redefining ties with the U.S., following his election win last month.
US President Donald Trump will briefly meet Syria’s new President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his visit to Saudi Arabia, in a move signalling potential policy shifts towards Damascus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared his intention to lift all sanctions currently imposed on Syria, asserting that the restrictions had achieved their intended goals.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a streamlined cabinet focused on economic reform and redefining ties with the U.S., following his election win last month.
US President Donald Trump will briefly meet Syria’s new President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his visit to Saudi Arabia, in a move signalling potential policy shifts towards Damascus.
Recent U.S. sanctions on Iran are not constructive when it comes to negotiations, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday, after the two countries held a fourth round of nuclear talks on Sunday in Oman.
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