Accused of Raping an Actress Twice in 2018
History of Sexual Assault and Harassment Allegations
Depardieu's Reputation in Jeopardy
French national actor Gerard Depardieu (76) has been brought to trial on charges of raping an actress. Depardieu had previously been investigated for allegations of sexually harassing female staff members.
According to reports from local media such as France's BFM TV on September 2 (local time), Depardieu has been indicted on charges of raping actress Charlotte Arnould twice at his home in Paris in August 2018.
Arnould filed a complaint against Depardieu after being raped, but local police and prosecutors closed the case in June 2019 during the investigation stage, citing "insufficient evidence" and taking no further action. However, when Arnould submitted a complaint directly to an investigating judge, the case was reopened. France has a system in which investigating judges, who are affiliated with the court, possess both investigative and prosecutorial authority.
Regarding this, Arnould stated on her Instagram, "It has been seven years of fear and hell," adding, "This decision corrects a kind of judicial truth. The significance is so great that it is hard to believe, but I feel a sense of relief." However, Depardieu's side has reportedly denied all charges, claiming the relationship was consensual.
In May, Depardieu was indicted for sexually harassing female staff members during a film shoot and received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial. In 2021, he was embroiled in controversy over allegations of sexually harassing staff on the set of the film "Green Shutters."
Depardieu, who debuted in the 1972 French film "Nathalie Granger," has maintained an acting career spanning more than 50 years and is considered a national actor in France. However, following repeated scandals and now facing trial on actual rape charges, his reputation is being seriously shaken.
The government of Quebec, the French-speaking region of Canada, has revoked the Quebec Order of Merit previously awarded to him, and in 2023, he was also at risk of being stripped of the Legion of Honor, France's highest national order.
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