French Acting Icon Gerard Depardieu Could Face Trial Over 2018 Incident

August 24, 2024

French prosecutors are urging a trial for actor Gérard Depardieu over 2018 rape allegations, tarnishing his public image and career.

At a Glance

Gérard Depardieu recommended for trial over 2018 rape allegations.
Paris prosecutor’s office seeks trial for rape and assault by digital penetration.
Depardieu denies wrongdoing; allegations brought by actress Charlotte Arnould.
Initial complaint dropped in 2018; new case opened in 2020.

Legal Actions Against a Prominent Actor

French actor Gérard Depardieu is facing severe allegations of rape and assault by a young actress, Charlotte Arnould. The Paris prosecutor’s office has confirmed the request for Depardieu to stand trial for rape and assault by digital penetration. The incidents reportedly took place at Depardieu’s Paris home on August 7 and 13, 2018. Depardieu, now 75 years old, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

“French actor Gerard Depardieu should face trial in a criminal court for allegedly raping and assaulting a young actress in 2018, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Thursday.”

Arnould’s initial complaint in 2018 was dropped due to a lack of evidence, but the case was reopened in 2020. A final indictment was presented by the Paris prosecutor’s office on August 14, pushing for the trial to move forward. An investigating judge will now decide whether the trial will proceed based on this indictment.

French actor Gérard Depardieu is currently in police custody, being questioned about two allegations of sexual assault on set. Meanwhile, a 2018 rape case against him remains open. https://t.co/4wCkW88XP3

— New York Magazine (@NYMag) April 29, 2024

Multiple Allegations Surfacing

Depardieu has faced over a dozen similar allegations, affecting his legacy significantly. Notably, he was indicted in December 2020 for rape and sexual assault. Allegations of misconduct have marred his career, with actress Charlotte Arnould claiming that Depardieu assaulted her at his Paris residence in 2018.

Besides these claims, Depardieu is set to be tried in October for alleged sexual assaults against two women during a film shoot in 2021. Additionally, a complaint from January 2022, which alleged assaults during the 2015 short film “The Magician and the Siamese,” was closed due to France’s statute of limitations.

Prosecutors Call for Gérard Depardieu to Stand Trial on Rape Allegations https://t.co/9mYlYBKQ8b

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 22, 2024

The Broader Context of Sexual Conduct Allegations in French Cinema

The Depardieu case is part of a larger reckoning within the French cinema industry regarding sexual assault and misconduct. Multiple high-profile individuals have been accused, including director Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon. Dominique Boutonnat, head of France’s National Centre of Cinema, was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting his godson in 2020 and had to step down from his position.

French cinema has also introduced mandatory anti-abuse training for films seeking public funding, in an effort to curb such incidents. Despite the mounting accusations against Depardieu, French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to revoke the actor’s Legion of Honor.