In brief
In a significant ruling, Gérard Depardieu, the 76-year-old French film icon, was convicted of sexual assault by a Paris court on May 13, 2025. The court found that Depardieu had assaulted two women—an assistant director and a set decorator—while filming "Les Volets Verts" in 2021. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, which has been suspended, and will be included in a sex offender registry.
The convictions arose from testimonies provided during a four-day trial held in March. The set decorator, who is 54 and identified only as Amélie, recounted a disturbing encounter where Depardieu, while seated, forcibly pulled her toward him and subjected her to sexual groping while making vulgar comments. The 34-year-old assistant director also reported multiple instances of inappropriate touching as she escorted the actor on set.Despite the verdict, Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations, even as he offered conflicting accounts regarding the incidents involving the set decorator. The prosecution's recommendation for a suspended sentence reflects the court's view on the severity of the assaults while allowing Depardieu to avoid immediate jail time, pending appeal options.
