Gerard Depardieu was detained in Paris due to allegations of sexualized violence
Gerard Depardieu was detained in Paris due to accusations of sexualized violence brought against him. According to the BFMTV channel, the French actor is currently in the police station, where he is being interrogated. Based on the results of the interrogation, he may be taken into custody.
The interrogation is being conducted regarding two episodes of sexualized violence that allegedly occurred in 2014 on the set of the film “The Magician and the Siamese” and in 2021 on the set of the film “Green Shutters.” One of the complainants reported that Depardieu, sitting in the corridor, grabbed her legs and, “pressing her between his thighs,” began touching her private parts and making indecent proposals. Other members of the film crew came to the woman’s aid. The actor was forced to apologize, but despite this, throughout the filming process he insulted the victim and called her a “whore.”
In April last year, the online publication Mediapart published a material in which it collected testimonies from 13 women who reported harassment and violence by Depardieu. The incidents allegedly occurred on the sets of 11 films and TV series between 2004 and 2022. At the beginning of December last year, it became known that one of the accusers, French actress Emmanuelle Debever, committed suicide. The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the probable causes of her death.
In connection with the incident, French Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak said that Depardieu disgraces France with his behavior and sexist remarks towards women. She also added that the disciplinary procedure intends to deprive the actor of the Legion of Honor. As a result, Depardieu himself handed over his award to the department.
At the same time, about 50 French cultural figures, including actor Pierre Richard and singer Carla Bruni, signed a public letter demanding that Gerard Depardieu not be subjected to cancel culture and that he be allowed to continue acting. The actor himself denies all accusations against him.
