In a surprising and serious development, French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexual assault. This case goes back to an incident in 2021 that happened while he was filming a movie called Les Volets Verts. The actor was convicted for groping a 54-year-old woman who worked as a set dresser on the film.
According to NBC News, judges are still working on another related case involving a different plaintiff, and they are expected to announce their verdict soon. For this particular case, Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence, which means he won’t go to jail immediately but could face consequences if he reoffends. He was also fined 20,000 euros (around $22,200).
This case has drawn a lot of attention because it’s seen as an important moment for France in the era following the #MeToo movement. People are watching closely to see how French society and the entertainment industry deal with sexual misconduct claims, especially when they involve well-known stars like Depardieu.
The actor himself denies all the accusations. During the court hearing, he talked about his long career, having made over 250 films, and called himself a big figure in French cinema. You might remember he was even nominated for an Oscar back in 1991 for his role as Cyrano de Bergerac, the famous swordsman and poet.
During his four-day trial in March, Depardieu rejected all the charges, telling the court, “I’m not like that.” He admitted that he sometimes used crude and sexual language on set and said he had grabbed the set dresser’s hips during an argument. However, he insisted that his actions were not meant to be sexual harassment or assault.
