S*xual Assault on Set: Gérard Depardieu Get Convicted; Denies Charges!

Depardieu was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison term along with a financial penalty amounting to 20,000 euros. The ruling followed a formal request by the public prosecutor in Paris

Published: Tuesday,May 13, 2025 12:18 PM GMT-06:00

Kunal Kothari

Veteran French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexual assault stemming from an incident that took place in 2021 during the filming of Les Volets Verts. The verdict, delivered by a French court, marks a turning point in ongoing discussions around misconduct within the entertainment industry.

Depardieu was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison term along with a financial penalty amounting to 20,000 euros. The ruling followed a formal request by the public prosecutor in Paris. This case is being widely seen as a critical moment in how French judicial and cultural systems are responding to allegations involving prominent figures, especially in the post-#MeToo landscape.

The specific charges relate to an altercation on the movie set, where Depardieu was accused of inappropriate physical contact with a female crew member — a 54-year-old set dresser. He acknowledged grabbing the woman's hips during a heated exchange but denied that his actions were sexual in nature. During his trial, Depardieu admitted to using coarse and suggestive language on set but maintained that this behavior did not amount to assault.

The court is also reviewing a second complaint tied to the same production, and a panel of judges is expected to issue their decision on that matter shortly. The outcome could further define legal precedents surrounding on-set conduct and professional boundaries.

Depardieu, a well-known figure in global cinema, has worked on over 250 films across decades and earned an Academy Award nomination for Cyrano de Bergerac in 1991. In court, he emphasized the length and scope of his career while rejecting the accusations made against him, stating simply, "I’m not like that."

The ruling arrives at a time when scrutiny around celebrity behavior and accountability in the film industry is at an all-time high. As the French legal system continues to navigate such cases, the verdict is likely to influence future actions taken within both legal and cinematic circles.