French film star Gérard De Pardieu was convicted of sexually assaulting two women in the film he starred in and sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Paris court on Tuesday.
He was also fined 29,040 euros (about $32,350) and the court required him to register in the national sex offender database.
The 76-year-old actor was found guilty of a 54-year-old suit dresser and a 34-year-old assistant while filming "Les Volets Verts" in 2021. The case is widely regarded as a charge of sexual error involving French society and its film industry and its film industry, and the case is widely regarded as.
French actor Gérard Depardieu
Depardieu, who denied the allegations, did not attend the hearing in Paris. Depardieu's lawyer said his client would appeal the decision.
“It was a victory for two women, but it was a victory for all women outside of the trial,” said Carine Durrieu Diebolt. "Today, we want to see the end of impunity for artists in the film world. I think through this decision, we can no longer say that he is not a sexual abuser. Today, with the Cannes Film Festival opening, I want the film world to give ideas for the victims of Gérard Depardieu."
Actor Gerard DePardieu is suspected of having sexual assault on two women in a film held in Paris on March 24, 2021. (Aurelien Morissard/AP photo)
DePardieu's long and long career - he told the court that he had filmed more than 250 films - turned him into a French film giant. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1991 for his performance as the swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac.
The actor has been accused of more than 20 women in recent years, but so far only sexual assault cases have begun courts. Some other cases have been removed due to the lack of evidence or restrictive regulations.
During a four-day trial in March, Depardieu rejected the charges, saying he was "not that." He admits he uses vulgar and sexualized language in the film and grabs the dresser’s hips in the argument, but denies that his actions are sexual.
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The court consisted of a panel of three judges and concluded that DePardieu's explanation in court was "not exaggerated" and "uncredible" and emphasized the "continuous, reaffirming and confirming statements" of the two accusers.
The court also said both plaintiffs faced an "active "defense strategy" based on comments designed to offend them." Therefore, the judge believed that the comments by DePardieu's attorney in court exacerbated the harm to the plaintiff and proved a higher fine.
DePardieu's attorney Jérémie Assous regrets that the court "considered the challenge of the allegation as another attack ... which means that now, even in this type of trial, the defense is no longer accepted."
From left, a plaintiff's lawyer Claude Vincent, lawyer Catherine Le Magueresse, a plaintiff, and a plaintiff's lawyer Carine Durrieu Diebolt speak with the media outside a Paris court, after a verdict was delivered on accusations that French actor Gerard Depardieu sexually assaulted two women who were working on a film with him in 2021, in Paris, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
The scene dresser describes the alleged attack, saying the actor tied her between his legs as she squeezed through him in a narrow corridor.
She said he grabbed his hips and began to "palpate" her back and "front, around". Her hands are near the hips, hips and public areas, showing everything she has experienced. She said he grabbed her breasts.
The woman also testified that Depardieu asked her to touch his penis with an obscene expression and suggested that he wanted to rape her. She told the court that the actor's calmness and cooperation attitude during the trial was not similar to his work behavior.
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Another plaintiff, an assistant, said Depardieu groped her hips and breasts in three incidents in the film.
The Associated Press will not identify those who say they were sexually assaulted unless they agree to be named. In this case, neither woman did this, even though one agreed to be photographed.
"I'm very touched," a plaintiff's dressing table told reporters after the verdict. "I'm very, very happy with this decision, and it was a victory for me, and it was actually a huge step forward. I feel that justice is just."
Actor Gérard Depardieu formed the photographer in a photo call at the 68th International Film Festival in Cannes, southern France on Friday, May 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
Some figures in the French film industry expressed support for Depardieu. Actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant are the ones who sit down in court.
French media reported last week that DePardieu is filming a film directed by the Portuguese Azores archipelago.
The actor may have to face other legal lawsuits as soon as possible.
In 2018, actor Charlotte accused him of raping her at home. The case remains active and in August 2024, prosecutors demanded a trial.
For more than half a century, DePardieu stood a towering figure in a French cinema, a giant known for his physical state, instinct, sensitivity and excellent versatility.
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DePardieu, a young man who overcomes speech barriers and turbulence, rose in the 1970s and became one of France's most prolific and critically acclaimed actors, portraying a wide variety of characters, from turbulent outsiders to deeply introspective figures.
His behavior of women has been re-examined in recent years, including in a documentary showing him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during his 2018 trip to North Korea.