French actor Gérard Depardieu has begun attending his first sexual assault trial in Paris. Two female crew members, a set decorator and an assistant director, accuse him of sexually assaulting them on the set of French feature “The Green Shutters” in 2021. Depardieu denies the charges. The trial comes after years of allegations of inappropriate behavior, with several cases already being dropped or going through the courts.
Depardieu was initially scheduled to appear last October but postponed due to medical reasons. He has since been deemed fit for court and will participate under conditions set by a judge, including limited hearing time and breaks every three hours.
This trial is not Depardieu’s first legal battle. He is also facing a complaint from actress Charlotte Arnould, who accused him of raping her in 2018. A separate case filed by French actress Hélène Darras was dismissed last year due to the statute of limitations.
The French media is now covering the trial extensively, with publications questioning whether Depardieu will be held accountable for his actions. Feminist groups have gathered outside the courthouse to show their support for the victims.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gerard-depardieu-sexual-assault-trial-starts-1236171169