French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the 2021 film Les Volets Verts. The Paris Criminal Court handed down an 18-month suspended prison sentence and stripped him of his civil rights for two years.
Allegations denied by the actor
The case centers around incidents that allegedly took place during filming under director Jean Becker. Two women—one a set designer, the other an assistant director—accused Depardieu of inappropriate and sexually charged behavior. Amélie, the set designer, testified about a disturbing encounter in which a technical discussion with Depardieu took a dark turn. “He closed his legs around me and grabbed my hips,” she said. “He trapped me—he’s strong—and started kneading me.” She described his “bulging face,” “red, excited eyes,” and explicit remarks including, “Come touch my big parasol, I’m going to stick it in your pussy.”
The second accuser, referred to as Sarah, recounted how Depardieu groped her one evening as she escorted him from his trailer to the set. “It was dark, and at the end of the street, he calmly placed his hand on my butt,” she said, miming the action in court. She went on to describe two additional instances of inappropriate contact. Depardieu forcefully denied all charges during his testimony. “I dispute the facts!” he declared. “There are certain vices I don’t even know.” He added, “Why would I grope a woman’s butt or breasts? I’m not some creep on the metro.” Regarding Sarah’s claim, he allowed that he “might have brushed past her in a hallway,” but insisted he never touched her intentionally.
Throughout the trial, Depardieu received vocal support from those close to him. His daughter Roxane, former partner Karine Silla, and actor Vincent Perez attended the hearings. Actress Fanny Ardant, currently working with Depardieu on a film in Portugal, also testified in his defense: “I’ve never witnessed any behavior I found shocking,” she said, adding, “I know you can say no to Gérard.”
Suspended sentence and loss of civil rights
The trial, which opened in late March, drew widespread media attention and unfolded in a charged atmosphere. The prosecution accused the defense of sexist rhetoric, while the plaintiffs gave emotionally raw accounts of the alleged assaults. Depardieu maintained he respects women and “femininity,” while decrying what he called “hysteria.” Prosecutors argued that the actor’s actions were intentional and requested 18 months of suspended prison time, mandatory psychological treatment, a two-year ban from holding public office, and inclusion in the national sex offender registry.
On the day of the verdict—coinciding with the opening of the Cannes Film Festival—only Amélie was present in court. Depardieu, still filming with Ardant, had left his attendance uncertain. Though his lawyer assured he would appear, the actor was a no-show when the ruling was read at 10 a.m. The court found Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting both women. He received the full sentence recommended by the prosecution: 18 months suspended, a two-year suspension of his civic rights, and official registration as a sex offender.
The verdict arrives amid mounting scrutiny of Depardieu’s behavior. Over the past several years, nearly 20 women have come forward with similar allegations, though many cases have been dismissed due to the statute of limitations.Among those in court was actress Charlotte Arnould, who filed the first official complaint against Depardieu in 2018, accusing him of rape. Her case is still active, and prosecutors have called for a trial in that matter as well.