French actor Gérard Depardieu sentenced to 18 months for s*xual assault in France

French actor Gérard Depardieu was convicted of s*xually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021. On Tuesday, May 13, a court in Paris sentenced the actor to 18 months in prison, as reported by Reuters and the Associated Press.Fine and S*x Offender Registration ImposedIn addition to the prison sentence, the court fined Depardieu about €29,040 (approximately USD 32,350) and ordered his registration on the national s*x offender list. The actor was absent from the hearing. His lawyer informed the Associated Press that Depardieu intends to challenge the judgment and continues to deny all charges.Details of the AllegationsThe allegations against Gérard Depardieu arose from incidents involving two women working on the 2021 film 'Les Volets Verts'. One of the accusers, a 54-year-old set decorator identified as Amelie K., testified that Depardieu repeatedly groped her, holding her between his legs. She recounted to the court, “He touched everything, including my breasts,” adding, “I was terrified, he was laughing,” according to Reuters.Victim’s Testimony of the IncidentAccording to her testimony, she was powerless to escape until another crew member stepped in. “I tried to free myself, I tried to take his hands away, I couldn’t do it,” she recalled to The New York Times. “He terrified me, he laughed, he looked like a madman.” In his defense, Depardieu claimed that he only grabbed her hips to steady himself and did not consider touching someone’s buttocks to be s*xual assault.Court’s Verdict and Judge’s RemarksJudge Thierry Donard rejected Depardieu’s account, deeming it unreliable and unpersuasive. The court ruled in favor of the victim, supported by testimonies from two witnesses. This decision is seen as an important milestone in addressing workplace harassment within France’s film industry. Amelie K.’s lawyer applauded the judgment, describing it as a “powerful ruling” that validates the experiences of those harmed by the actor’s behavior.Background and Broader ContextAccording to The Hollywood Reporter, Gérard, a leading icon in French cinema, has been accused of s*xual misconduct more than 20 times over the years. His recent trial stands out as one of the most notable #MeToo cases in France. While the #MeToo movement has made significant strides worldwide, its influence in France has progressed more gradually. Nevertheless, attitudes toward s*xual misconduct in the country have been changing in recent years.