French actor Depardieu goes on trial in Paris on sexual assault charges

In a Paris court, the trial of French actor Gerard Depardieu, who is accused of sexually assaulting two women while filming in 2021, has begun.

It is thought to be the #MeToo movement’s pivotal moment in France.

While the two plaintiffs were also present in the courtroom on Monday, Depardieu, 76, sat opposite the judge.

Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) was allegedly the women’s assaults, whose full identities have not been made public.

They accuse Depardieu of touching one of the women’s waist, hips, and breasts while saying obscene words while pulling one woman toward him and catching her with his legs while doing it. According to the prosecution, three people were present at the scene.

Depardieu allegedly groped the second woman on set and in the street.

Before entering the courtroom and chatting with a few actors there, Depardieu, his hand on his attorney’s shoulder, quietly passed reporters and looked straight at the cameras without saying a word.

The accusations were false and fabricated, according to his attorney, Jeremie Assous, who represented the client.

He said, “Truth is on our side.”

Fear because he is a giant in the movie industry.

Depardieu, a renowned director in France, has recently been the subject of an increasing number of sexual assault allegations.

Around 20 women have accused Depardieu of improper behavior overall, but several cases have been dropped due to the statute of limitations.

The first woman to accuse Depardieu of a crime in 2018 was French actor Charlotte Arnould.

He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his trial on Monday will be his first for the case.

Before the proceeding, one of the women’s attorneys informed the Reuters news agency that her client was hesitant to sue Depardieu.

Carine Durrieu-Diebolt remarked, “He’s a cinema giant, so there’s a fear.” Because they all work in movies but at a much lower level than Depardieu, they are at odds with David and Goliath.

An assistant director’s second plaintiff also brought allegations of sexual abuse.

Lawyer Claude Vincent told the AFP news agency, “My client wants the trial to take place, but I’m also concerned about how Mr. Depardieu’s defense will handle the civil parties at the hearing.”

Important #MeToo development in France

Difficulty protesters chanted “We believe you” as they chanted “We believe you” outside the court on Monday to show their support for the two plaintiffs.

Depardieu could receive a fine of 75, 000 euros ($81, 000) and up to five years in prison if found guilty.

Depardieu’s trial is the most well-known #MeToo case to be brought before French courts, a nation where the anti-sex violence protest movement has struggled to gain the same amount of support as the US.

However, there have recently been indications of change.

Gisele Pelicot became a famous feminist in the world last year when she pleaded not guilty to drugging her and inviting dozens of other men to their home to sexually abuse her over the course of nearly ten years.

Source: Aljazeera