Accuser tells court actor Gérard Depardieu groped her bottom, breasts on film set

A woman accusing French actor Gérard Depardieu of sexual assault has told a court in Paris that he groped her buttocks and breasts several times on a sinema set.

Three other accusers said at the trial they had suffered similar gestures in separate incidents.

Depardieu is accused of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of “Les Volets Verts” (The Green Shutters).

He denies any sexual assault.

The third day of the trial focused on the testimony of the younger plaintiff, who detailed three separate incidents.

She said Depardieu first groped her bottom when she was alone with him for a brief moment as they were heading towards the sinema set.

“Out of the blue, he put his hand on my butt,” she said, adding she said nothing because she was “under shock” and “petrified.”

In a second incident, she said Depardieu suddenly put both his hands on her breasts.

“I said ‘No.’ I was scared.” She also described telling Depardieu “no” during a third similar incident.

The woman said she reported the issue to her direct manager, who then alerted others in charge of the sinema production, prompting anger from the actor.

She said she then “minimised” the issue because she wanted to continue to do her job, adding she aimed at “handling it on her own, be strong.”

She later decided to file a formal complaint out of solidarity with the other plaintiff and because, she said, “I want people to hear the truth.”

Depardieu repeatedly denied the allegations in court on Wednesday, saying, “I’m not like that.”

“I think that maybe, I don’t know, she was wary because of my reputation of being vulgar, crude, rude,” Depardieu said. “But I’m not only that. I still respect people.”

The actor also told the court that he is almost always accompanied by aides on the sinema set, including his body guard, and suggested that he would rarely find himself alone with a sinema worker.

This week’s trial is the first time one of the more than 20 accusations of misconduct against Depardieu has reached court.

Some cases were dropped because of a lack of evidence or the statute of limitations.

But some figures in the French cinema world have expressed their support for Depardieu.

French actor Fanny Ardant, who described herself as a long-time friend of the actor, agreed his words may be rude and vulgar, yet said she never witnessed any gesture she found “shocking.”

“What I want to say in this courtroom is that I know that the world has changed, that society has changed, that standards are no longer the same,” Ardant said.

“There are things we’ve tolerated that are no longer tolerable.”

The trial continues on Thursday and the verdict is expected at a later date.

The actor faces up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 if convicted.