Gérard Depardieu Trial: The Actor Faces Court Over Sexual Assault Allegations on the Set of Les Volets Verts

The Paris Criminal Court is hosting the trial of Gérard Depardieu, 76, starting this Monday, March 24. The actor stands accused of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts in 2021. Initially scheduled for last October, the trial was postponed due to health concerns. Now deemed fit to appear, Depardieu will be present in court, with proceedings potentially lasting until Thursday.

The Allegations Against Gérard Depardieu

The two plaintiffs, Amélie, 54, a set decorator, and Sarah (a pseudonym), 34, an assistant director, accuse the actor of sexual harassment and assault during the filming of Jean Becker’s movie.

Amélie alleges that Depardieu trapped her between his legs and groped her breasts, buttocks, and genitals over her clothes. Distressed, she immediately reported the incident to the production team and received an apology accompanied by inappropriate remarks. Three witnesses confirmed the scene, describing a visibly shaken victim.

Sarah also accuses Depardieu of repeated inappropriate touching, claiming he groped her buttocks and breasts multiple times despite her protests. She further describes a hostile environment where the actor verbally harassed her after she rejected his advances.

Medical assessments confirmed both women suffered psychological trauma, assigning them several days of total incapacity for work (ITT).

An Actor Who Firmly Denies the Charges

Since the beginning of the case, Gérard Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations, denouncing them as “lies and slander.” His lawyer, Jérémie Assous, will plead for acquittal, arguing a lack of evidence and contradictory testimonies. In October, Depardieu publicly defended himself in a Le Figaro op-ed, insisting he had “never abused a woman.”

The Stakes of the Trial

If convicted, Gérard Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine. The trial is also being closely followed in a broader context, as the actor faces additional accusations of sexual misconduct, including an indictment for rape involving Charlotte Arnould.

The verdict, expected after several days of hearings, could mark a significant turning point in the career of “the once-revered French cinema icon”* (*for those who want to believe this kind of nonsense), whose downfall now seems inevitable.