French film star Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set and sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison term by a Paris court.
The 76-year-old actor was accused of groping the women while working on a 2021 film. He denied the allegations, and his lawyer has confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.
The court ruled that one woman, a set designer named Amélie, gave consistent testimony, while Depardieu’s version of events changed over time. She later told reporters she felt “very moved” and saw the decision as a personal victory.
Depardieu was also convicted of assaulting an assistant director named Sarah.
He was not present in court for the verdict, as he was working on a film in the Azores.
Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, representing both women, said she hoped the decision would signal an end to the culture of impunity for artists in the industry.
She called it a victory not only for the two women but for all those who have spoken out against Depardieu.
She also noted that the verdict came just hours before the Cannes Film Festival was set to begin.
The incidents took place in September 2021 during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” (The Green Shutters), a story about an ageing actor facing his decline.
This case marked Depardieu’s first trial on sexual assault charges. Other women have made similar claims in the media, and a separate rape case may go to trial later.
At the conclusion of the March trial, prosecutor Laurent Guy remarked, “It’s perfectly possible to be an excellent actor and a great father – and still commit a crime.
“You are not here to pass judgment on French cinema. You are here to judge Gérard Depardieu, just as you would any other citizen.”
The prosecutor requested an 18-month suspended sentence, a €20,000 fine, and that Depardieu be placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Claude Vincent, lawyer for one of the women, called Depardieu a “misogynist” and “a case study in sexism.”
In contrast, defence lawyer Jérémie Assous called for an acquittal, claiming the plaintiffs’ legal team acted more like activists than attorneys.
He accused them of being intolerant of any form of defence, equating it to another form of assault in their view.
Amélie testified that after a brief argument, Depardieu pinned her between his legs and grabbed her by the hips.
Sarah, the second plaintiff, said the actor touched her breasts and buttocks through her clothes on three separate occasions.
Depardieu denied the claims, insisting any contact was accidental or a matter of maintaining balance.
At the trial’s end, he lamented the damage to his reputation, saying, “My name has been dragged through the mud by lies and insults.”
He compared the experience to being in a science fiction movie, except it was real life, not fiction.
Depardieu also expressed gratitude to the legal teams for teaching him about courtroom dynamics, joking that it could help if he ever played a lawyer onscreen.
He added that he had not acted in three years due to the ongoing allegations.
However, reports emerged this month that he has resumed work in the Azores on a film directed by actress and longtime friend Fanny Ardant, in which he plays a magician on a mysterious island.
Ardant, who co-starred with Depardieu in “Les Volets Verts,” defended him during the trial.
She described him as both “monster and saint,” saying that genius often comes with traits that are wild and dangerous.
Brigitte Bardot, another prominent French actress, also publicly supported Depardieu this week in a rare TV interview.
She criticised the backlash against “talented people who touch the buttocks of a girl” and said they were being unfairly punished.
“Feminism isn’t my thing,” Bardot added. “Personally, I like men.”
