Gérard Depardieu Scandal: Accusations of Rape and Sexual Assault Rock French Cultural World

File photo of French actor Gerard Depardieu. EFE/EPA/CLEMENS BILAN

The accusations of rape or sexual assault against the actor Gérard Depardieu have ended up tearing the French cultural world apart, divided between those who believe that the time has come to uncover the abuses and those who insist that justice must be allowed to do its job. The intervention last month by President Emmanuel Macron, who in a television interview took sides with the star, sharpened that division.

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The most serious accusations against Depardieu, 75, date back to 2020, but other actresses, film or theater workers and even journalists (including the Spanish Ruth Baza, who interviewed him in 1995) have provided new and serious testimonies. Added to this is a television report, during a visit by Depardieu to North Korea in 2018, in which the actor repeatedly utters rude and sexist comments in front of the camera.

Public letters of support and criticism

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It was a public letter of support for the actor that opened the thunder: nearly 60 personalities from the world of cinema, art or literature expressed their admiration for the interpreter of Cyrano, whom they consider “probably the greatest actor.” in danger of being “canceled.”

The response to that forum published in the newspaper Le Figaro was devastating: more than 600 personalities warned that Depardieu “does not represent France.” And that public letter was followed by another, under the title “Farewell to the old world.”

The French president Emmanuel Macron came out to publicly defend the actor days ago (Photo by Ludovic MARIN and Valery HACHE / AFP)

“No, we are not proud of Gérard Depardieu,” declared former president and Macron’s predecessor, François Hollande. The Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, announced a disciplinary procedure that could lead to the withdrawal of the Legion of Honor from Depardieu, which she responded by making that decoration “available” to the minister. Macron stated for his part that Malak “rushed” into this matter, and that justice must take its course.

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Both on the side of Depardieu’s defenders and critics, there are many prestigious names: the actress Catherine Deneuve took the side of her colleague, with whom she has shared the screen in several productions, as well as Nathalie Baye, or Fanny Ardant. On the critical side, young singers like Angèle & Pomme, or veteran actresses like Anne Roumanoff.

Gérard Depardieu is a “predator,” accused actress Sophie Marceau, who already denounced the veteran actor’s behavior in 2015. Some of the signatories of the open letter in favor of Depardieu have withdrawn their support, in the face of enormous public pressure. . And the scandal has caused other unexpected quarrels.

French film star Catherine Deneuve also took sides with Depardieu. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

The French actress Lucie Lucas and the Spanish Victoria Abril filmed a somewhat successful television series together. Abril, known in France, was one of the signatories of the letter of support for Depardieu, which led Lucas to also accuse her of abusive behavior during filming. The former “Almodóvar girl” announced a defamation complaint against Lucas on December 29.

“The media, social networks (…) push us toward behaviors worthy of the Far West,” explained Lucie Lucas on her Instagram account. “I also got carried away, and I got involved with Victoria, something I’m not proud of,” she concluded.

Anecdotes about filming or theatrical productions with Depardieu have proliferated in recent months, in which abusive behavior seems to emerge, but not directed at the actresses with whom he shared the spotlight, but with women in the background, more vulnerable.

“I know that Gérard Depardieu is not an exemplary person, he was during the filming of my film, but he is not exemplary all the time,” confessed Patrice Leconte, who directed him in 2022 (Maigret). Leconte was one of those who signed the statement in favor of the legendary actor, and now he claims to regret it.

Fuente: AFP

2024-01-03 18:08:10
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