Islamabad, 13 May, 2025: A Paris court on Tuesday gave veteran actor Gerard Depardieu an 18-month suspended sentence for sexually assaulting two women during the 2021 filming of Les Volets Verts.
The ruling also required the 76-year-old to register as a sex offender, a sharp fall from grace for one of France’s most celebrated cinema figures.
Depardieu was absent as the verdict was delivered but plans to appeal the decision, according to his lawyer.
The court’s ruling coincided with the opening day of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival — a symbolically charged moment, given Depardieu’s longstanding status in French cinema.
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This is the first of multiple allegations against the actor to reach court. Around 20 women have accused him of inappropriate conduct or assault.
The two women in this case, a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director, claimed Depardieu groped them on separate occasions.
One testified he pinned her down and made obscene comments; the other said he touched her inappropriately on three occasions.
Prosecutors recommended a suspended sentence, citing what they described as Depardieu’s complete lack of remorse.
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The actor denied the charges, calling himself vulgar but insisting he “doesn’t touch.”
The presiding judge criticised Depardieu’s defence team for belittling the women in court, describing their arguments as sexist and damaging.
The court ordered Depardieu to pay each woman €1,000 in damages.
The case has reignited debate over sexism in France’s film industry.
Nearly 200 lawyers signed an open letter during the trial urging the legal system to reject gender-based attacks in courtrooms.
