On May 13, 2025, the Paris Correctional Court sentenced French actor Gérard Depardieu to a sentence of 18 months’ suspended prison for sexual assault. The conviction concerns two incidents that occurred in 2021 during the filming of the movie Les Volets Verts, directed by Jean Becker.
The victims were two women who worked on the set: Amélie K., a 54-year-old set designer, and Sarah, a 34-year-old assistant director. Both recounted how they had been harassed by Depardieu. Amélie said the actor touched her inappropriately, while Sarah reported three separate incidents of harassment.
The court found their testimonies credible, as they had been supported by other witnesses. Gérard Depardieu, however, has always denied all charges, saying he was the victim of a defamatory media campaign.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court ruled for him to be politically ineligible for two years and to be placed on the national registry of sex offenders. The decision was welcomed by victims and their lawyers, who called it a symbolic victory, including in relation to the #MeToo movement against harassment and abuse.
While this conviction is the first legal decision in a series of accusations against Depardieu, over 20 women have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct or filed formal complaints. Many of these cases were dropped due to insufficient evidence or the statute of limitations. One case is still active. Actress Charlotte Arnould accused Depardieu of raping her at his home in 2018. Prosecutors requested in August 2024 that this case proceed to trial later this year.
The ruling had a great public impact. Demonstrations by feminist activists were held in front of the court, and debates about power and abuses in the film industry were ignited across the country. The case also had political overtones: much criticism was directed at President Emmanuel Macron for his previous support of Depardieu.
Gérard Depardieu has had other legal issues, most notably an incident involving public urination on an Air France flight in August 2011. He has a long-standing reputation for unpredictable behavior, which could, on occasion, border on, or constitute a public nuisance.
