Gerard Depardieu has requested for a delay to the start of his sexual assault trial, which was set to open in Paris on Monday. His lawyer requested for the delay citing the star’s well being points.
The French actor is accused of attacking two girls whereas capturing the 2021 movie Les Volets Verts (The Inexperienced Shutters), within the highest profile #MeToo case to hit the nation.
Prosecutors say he made specific sexual remarks to, after which aggressively “groped”, two members of the film’s manufacturing workforce. If convicted he might face 5 years in jail.
The 75-year-old denies the costs and stated in an open letter revealed final 12 months that he has by no means “abused a lady”.
Proceedings had been set to open at a prison courtroom within the French capital at round 13:30 native time. However his lawyer, Jeremie Assous, instructed French media that the actor had been “deeply affected” by sickness and was suggested by his medical doctors to not attend the trial.
Assous added that his shopper had requested for the delay as he “needs to return, desires to specific himself” earlier than the courtroom.
The trial marks a serious second for France’s #MeToo motion, with Depardieu being the best profile determine in French cinema to face accusations of sexual assault. The ladies – who haven’t been named – say Depardieu made sexual feedback to them. They are saying he additionally “violently grabbed” and “groped” them.
Depardieu’s lawyer has accused the ladies of “false accusations”. He additionally claimed that one of many girls was trying to “generate profits” by claiming €30,000 ($32,500; £25,000) in compensation, Le Monde reported.
Because the allegations surfaced, Depardieu has develop into a digital pariah. He has not appeared in a movie since 2022, and he faces a second trial subsequent 12 months on prices of raping the actress Charlotte Arnould twice at his dwelling in Paris. He denies the allegations.
Depardieu has additionally been accused of sexual assault by greater than a dozen different girls.
Regardless of the mounting allegations, the star has obtained sturdy messages of assist from some members of France’s inventive group. A bunch of greater than 50 actors, administrators and producers stated accusations in opposition to Depardieu have been “an assault on artwork itself” in a letter revealed final 12 months.
Signed by actors Charlotte Rampling, Carole Bouquet, Pierre Richard, and the singers Carla Bruni and Jacques Dutronc, the letter stated they might not “stay silent within the face of the lynching that has fallen upon [Depardieu]”.
French President Emmanuel Macron additionally attracted anger, after describing the actor as “the pleasure of France” final 12 months. Macron added that Depardieu was being subjected to a “manhunt”. Campaigners stated the feedback undermined efforts to guard girls from violence.
Actress Léa Seydoux referred to as Macron’s feedback “loopy”, including that it “provides a really unhealthy picture for France”.
Regardless of Macron’s present of assist, his then-culture minister Rima Abdul-Malak stated she would look into withdrawing Depardieu’s Legion d’Honneur after footage emerged of him making sexual feedback round girls in a 2018 documentary filmed in North Korea.