4 weeks ago
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Gerard Depardieu is acceptable to spell connected proceedings successful Paris connected Monday, with the French histrion facing 2 allegations of intersexual battle successful the country's highest illustration #MeToo case.
Depardieu is accused of attacking the women portion shooting the 2021 movie Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).
Prosecutors accidental the histrion made explicit intersexual remarks to, and past aggressively "groped", 2 members of the movie's accumulation team. If convicted helium could look 5 years successful prison.
The 75-year-old denies the charges and said successful an unfastened missive published past twelvemonth that helium has ne'er "abused a woman". His lawyer asked for a hold to the proceedings aboriginal connected Monday, citing the actor's wellness issues.
"Gerard Depardieu is highly affected and unluckily his doctors person forbid him from being contiguous astatine the hearing, which is wherefore helium volition inquire for a postponement to a aboriginal day truthful that helium tin attend", Jeremie Assous told section media.
The proceedings marks a large infinitesimal for France's #MeToo movement, with Depardieu being the highest illustration fig successful French cinema to look accusations of intersexual assault. The women - who person not been named - accidental Depardieu made intersexual comments to them. They accidental helium besides "violently grabbed" and "groped" them.
Depardieu's lawyer has accused the women of "false accusations". He besides claimed that 1 of the women was attempting to "make money" by claiming €30,000 ($32,500; £25,000) successful compensation, Le Monde reported.
Since the allegations surfaced, Depardieu has go a virtual pariah. He has not appeared successful a movie since 2022, and helium faces a 2nd proceedings adjacent twelvemonth connected charges of raping the histrion Charlotte Arnould doubly astatine his location successful Paris. He denies the allegations.
Depardieu has besides been accused of intersexual battle by much than a twelve different women.
Despite the mounting allegations, the prima has received beardown messages of enactment from immoderate members of France's creator community. A radical of much than 50 actors, directors and producers said accusations against Depardieu were "an onslaught connected creation itself" successful a missive published past year.
Signed by actors Charlotte Rampling, Carole Bouquet, Pierre Richard, and the singers Carla Bruni and Jacques Dutronc, the missive said they could not "remain soundless successful the look of the lynching that has fallen upon [Depardieu]".
French President Emmanuel Macron besides attracted anger, aft describing the histrion arsenic "the pridefulness of France" past year. Macron added that Depardieu was being subjected to a "manhunt". Campaigners said the comments undermined efforts to support women from violence.
Actress Léa Seydoux called Macron's comments "crazy", adding that it "gives a precise atrocious representation for France".
Despite Macron's amusement of support, his then-culture curate Rima Abdul-Malak said she would look into withdrawing Depardieu's Legion d'Honneur aft footage emerged of him making intersexual comments astir women successful a 2018 documentary filmed successful North Korea.
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