Gérard Depardieu is set to face a Paris courtroom on Monday, facing two women who accuse him of sexual assault during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” in 2021. This trial marks a significant moment in post-#MeToo France, where powerful figures are being held accountable for their actions.
Depardieu, 76, is accused of assaulting a set dresser and an assistant director on set. Prosecutors say he trapped one woman with his legs before groping her waist and breasts in front of witnesses. A second woman alleged she was groped both on set and in the street.
The case has sparked a cultural reckoning for France’s post-#MeToo era, testing whether the country is prepared to hold its most powerful figures accountable. Critics argue that France has often been ambivalent towards the #MeToo movement, dismissing it as an American export incompatible with French values.
Depardieu has denied all allegations, but his lawyer calls the case baseless. The trial comes amidst a wider conversation about power and abuse in the arts, led by prominent figures like actress Judith Godrèche, who accused directors of sexually exploiting her as a teenager.
The trial will also shed light on France’s culture of seduction, where powerful men have long been shielded from accountability for their actions. The case has sparked calls for reforms to protect minors in the arts and new protections against child sex crimes.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/france-depardieu-paris-trial-metoo-6ae20e810dba2a3e91d0b1a14e1d8bf7