Tue May 13 16:38:22 IST 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Gerard Depardieu Found Guilty of Sexual Assault, Receives Suspended Sentence**
**Paris, France** – French actor Gerard Depardieu, 76, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021 and sentenced to 18 months suspended sentence. The verdict was delivered Tuesday morning by a Paris court, which also ordered Depardieu to be placed on the sex offenders list. Depardieu was not present for the verdict.
The charges stem from incidents during the filming of “Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).” One plaintiff, Amelie K, a set decorator, testified that Depardieu groped her and made explicit sexual comments. Another woman, an assistant director, accused Depardieu of multiple assaults, including touching her buttocks.
Judge Thierry Donard deemed Depardieu’s explanations of the events “unconvincing.” While Depardieu admitted to being “vulgar, rude, foul-mouthed,” he denied touching anyone. He also described the Me Too movement as a “reign of terror” and downplayed the severity of touching a woman’s bottom.
Amelie K’s lawyer praised the ruling as a “beautiful decision” that acknowledged Depardieu’s victims. Depardieu’s lawyer has announced intentions to appeal.
This case marks the first time Depardieu, a prominent figure in French cinema, has faced trial despite numerous allegations of sexual assault from approximately 20 women in recent years. The accusations have fueled debate in France about the treatment of women and the power dynamics within the entertainment industry.
The Me Too movement gained momentum in 2017, encouraging individuals to share their experiences of sexual abuse and harassment by influential figures.
First Piper 