French actor Gérard Depardieu has responded to allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him for the first time. In an open letter published in Le Figaro, Depardieu claimed to be the victim of a “media court” and denied ever abusing a woman. The allegations stem from an incident in 2018 when an actor accused Depardieu of attacking her at his home in Paris. Depardieu’s lawyer has stated that he denies the allegations.
Depardieu’s case was formally investigated in December 2020, and the Paris chief prosecutor has stated that there is “serious and confirmed evidence” to support the charges. In April, Mediapart published allegations of sexual violence against Depardieu from multiple women, some dating back to the early 2000s. Depardieu’s lawyers have maintained his denial of any criminal behavior.
In his letter, Depardieu addressed the specific allegations made by the 22-year-old actor, stating that any encounter between them was consensual. The woman’s lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, contested Depardieu’s version of events, emphasizing that the woman knew Depardieu and had a longstanding connection to him. Durrieu Diebolt stated that it would be up to the justice system to determine the truth of the matter.
Gérard Depardieu, a renowned French actor with over 170 film appearances, gained international fame through his English-language roles. Despite the ongoing investigation, Depardieu has continued to work in French cinema. The investigation into the allegations against him is still ongoing.
