Sexual assault allegations against Depardieu 'dishonest', lawyer says as trial starts

Record ID: 1985127

  • Title: Sexual assault allegations against Depardieu 'dishonest', lawyer says as trial starts
  • Date: 24th March 2025
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 24, 2025) (REUTERS) FRENCH ACTOR, GERARD DEPARDIEU, AND HIS LAWYER IN SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIAL, JEREMIE ASSOUS, ARRIVING IN COURT FOR TRIAL START DEPARDIEU AND ASSOUS WALKING BY JOURNALISTS DEPARDIEU AND ASSOUS WALKING, ENTERING COURTROOM JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER FOR FRENCH ACTOR GERARD DEPARDIEU, JEREMIE ASSOUS, SAYING: “We can finally be p
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Depardieu France MeToo rape sexual assault women's rights
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Europe,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA001125024032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The lawyer of Gerard Depardieu on Monday (March 24) deemed "dishonest" the allegations of sexual assault against the French actor.
    Depardieu went on trial on Monday over alleged sexual assaults on a film set, in a case that placed one of France's best-known movie stars at the heart of the country's broader reckoning over sexual violence.
    A towering figure of French cinema, Depardieu has faced a growing number of sexual assault allegations in recent years. Depardieu, 76, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and this is the first case for which he would be standing trial.
    The trial, expected to last up to three days, was initially due to be held in October but was postponed due to Depardieu's ill health.
    Depardieu, his hand on his lawyer's shoulder, passed calmly past reporters, looking straight at the cameras without saying a word, before walking into the courtroom and chatting with a couple of actors present there.
    His lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told reporters, that the accusations were false and based on lies.
    "Truth is on our side," he said.
    Prosecutors allege the assaults against two women - whose full identities have not been revealed - took place during the filming in 2021 of "Les Volets Verts" (The Green Shutters).
    (Production: Clotaire Achi, Katya Skortsova, Lucien Libert, Ardee Napolitano)
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