Gerard Depardieu has asked for a delay in the start of his sexual assault trial, which was due to open in Paris on Monday. His lawyer asked for a delay citing the star’s health.
The French actor is accused of assaulting two women while filming the 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters), in the most high-profile #MeToo case to hit the country.
Prosecutors say he made explicit sexual comments to two members of the film’s production team. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison.
The 75-year-old denies the charges and said in an open letter published last year that he had never “molested a woman”.
The trial was due to open at a criminal court in the French capital at around 13:30 local time. But his lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told French media that the actor was “very affected” by his illness and was advised by his doctors not to attend the trial.
Assous added that his client asked for a delay as he “wishes to come, he wants to present himself” before the court.
The trial marks a major moment for France’s #MeToo movement, and Depardieu is the most prominent actor in French cinema to be accused of sexual harassment. The women – who have not been named – said Depardieu talked to them about sex. He said he also “grabbed them by force” and “groped them”.
Depardieu’s lawyer accused the women of “falsehood”. He also said one of the women was trying to “make money” by demanding €30,000 ($32,500; £25,000) in compensation, Le Monde reported.
Since the allegations surfaced, Depardieu has become a virtual pariah. He has not appeared in a film since 2022, and faces a second trial next year on charges of raping actress Charlotte Arnould twice at her home in Paris. He denies these allegations.
Depardieu has also been accused of sexually assaulting more than ten other women.
Despite the heated allegations, the star has received strong messages of support from other members of the artistic community in France. A group of more than 50 actors, directors and producers said the allegations against Depardieu were “an attack on art itself” in a letter published last year.
Signed by actresses Charlotte Rampling, Carole Bouquet, Pierre Richard, and singers Carla Bruni and Jacques Dutronc, the letter said they will not “remain silent in the face of the terrible crime that has attacked. [Depardieu]”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also drew outrage, after describing the actress as “the pride of France” last year. Macron added that Depardieu is under “search”. Campaigners said the comments undermined efforts to protect women from violence.
Actress Léa Seydoux called Macron’s comments “insane”, adding that it “gives a very bad image of France”.
Despite Macron’s show of support, his then-culture minister Rima Abdul-Malak said she would consider revoking Depardieu’s Legion d’Honneur after images of him making sexual comments about women emerged in a 2018 documentary filmed in North Korea.
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