Gerard Depardieu Requests Postponement of Sexual Assault Trial for Health Reasons

Gerard Depardieu requested the postponement of his sexual assault trial, which was planned to start in Paris on Monday, citing health reasons.

Depardieu’s lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told FranceInfo that the actor was “extremely affected and unfortunately his doctors forbade him from attending the hearing,” according to French news agency AFP.

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Assous added that Depardieu “will ask for it to be postponed to a later date so that he can attend.” His trial was to start at 13.30 Paris time on Monday.

Depardieu’s lawyer did not immediately respond to this question Diversity‘s request for further comments.

Depardieu is on trial for two allegations of sexual assault dating back to the filming of Jean Becker’s “The Green Shutters” (“Les volets verts”) in August and September 2021 in southern France. He was called to the courthouse today, April 29. According to the accusations, Depardieu, who has long been considered the mascot of French cinema history and has appeared in more than 150 films, including classics such as Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s “Cyrano de Bergerac”, risks being sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros. facing.

Amelie K, who worked as a set decorator in “Green Shutters”, accused Depardieu of sexually assaulting and harassing her during filming on September 10, 2021, in the letter she sent to the prosecutor on February 23 this year. Amelie K claimed that she overheard several rude comments from Depardieu and that one day, as she was passing by while sitting in the hallway, Depardieu grabbed her, pulled her towards him, blocked her with his legs and kneaded her waist and hips. and breast, while making suggestive comments.

He added that, in a state of shock, two of his colleagues helped him, and Gérard Depardieu left the scene with his bodyguards. After reporting the incident to the production manager, Depardieu was asked to apologize, but instead he made hostile remarks about her for the remainder of the shoot.

“The plaintiff explained that it took him some time to decide to file a complaint, but he was shocked to hear on television that no incidents occurred during the filming. A spokesman for the Paris prosecutor added that she was not the only person sexually assaulted. Diversity.

A second woman named Engela W, who worked as Becker’s assistant on “Green Shutters,” accused Depardieu of sexually assaulting her on August 31. She filed a complaint on March 21, 2024, stating that Depardieu touched her buttocks. on the street, he touched her breasts in the same place a few days later, and on another occasion he touched her buttocks again. Stating that he refused to be touched, the player added that Gérard Depardieu started to insult him. He reported the incident to his family the same day.

Variety contacted Depardieu’s lawyer, Jérémie Assous, for comment on the outcome of the hearing. Depardieu has previously denied all accusations. In a statement sent to Variety before the hearing, Assous said, “the witnesses and evidence he will present will only reveal that he was the target of false accusations.” Assous also claimed that “the real intention was revealed by the claims of the parties involved: to obtain financial gain ranging from 6,000 to 30,000 euros.”

In a separate case, the 75-year-old famous French actor has been charged since December 16, 2020, over allegations of rape and sexual assault filed by actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018.

In its final indictment in August, the Paris prosecutor’s office requested that Depardieu be sent to the regional criminal court to be tried for rape and sexual assault by digital penetration on 7 and 13 August 2018. The investigating judge needs to decide what to do now. Giving instructions for transactions.

Another sexual assault complaint filed last year by actor Helene Darras, who accused Depardieu of groping and propositioning her during a movie shoot in 2007, was also withdrawn due to the statute of limitations.

In April last year, 13 women accused the actor of sexually inappropriate behavior in a report published by French investigative news site Médiapart. Depardieu vehemently denied all the accusations, saying in a letter to Le Figaro newspaper in October: “I have never harassed a woman.”

Depardieu, who triggered a turning point for the #MeToo movement in France and is still lining up roles until 2022, has seen his career nearly come to an end. He appears to have appeared in a small Italian horror film called ‘Gemini’ which has only been released in the last few years.

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