French Cinema Icon Gérard Depardieu Found Guilty of Sexual Assault on Film Set
Wafric News – May 13, 2025
Paris, France — Gérard Depardieu, one of France’s most recognizable actors and once considered a giant of European cinema, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on the set of a film in 2021 — a ruling many are calling a landmark moment for France’s #MeToo reckoning.
The verdict, delivered on May 13, marks a significant turn in a country where high-profile sexual assault cases involving public figures have often ended without convictions. Depardieu, 75, has long denied the allegations and has already announced plans to appeal the decision.
The assaults reportedly occurred during the production of a film in 2021, where the victims say Depardieu acted inappropriately and without consent. Details of the trial, which had drawn widespread attention in French media, were kept under tight wraps due to the sensitive nature of the testimonies.
While Depardieu remains a towering figure in French culture, the ruling underscores a growing shift in public attitudes — a move away from the long-standing culture of silence and protection around powerful men in the arts and entertainment world.
Activists and rights groups in France welcomed the court's decision as a symbolic victory for survivors of sexual violence. “This is not just about Depardieu,” one advocate told local media, “it’s about accountability finally reaching those who once seemed untouchable.”
The case comes amid a broader push across Europe and Africa to challenge entrenched systems that have allowed sexual misconduct to go unchecked. From film sets in Lagos to political halls in Paris, the call for justice and accountability continues to grow louder.
Depardieu’s legal team has vowed to contest the verdict, saying the actor was “shocked” by the ruling and will “exhaust all legal options.”
As the case heads for appeal, eyes around the world remain on France — a country now forced to confront its contradictions between cultural prestige and justice for women.
By WafricNews Desk.
By WafricNews Desk.
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