Shocking accusations

Bodyguard had to pull Depardieu off woman

French actor Gérard Depardieu has been accused of sexual harassment and violence for years. On Monday, he was temporarily taken into police custody and questioned following allegations by two women that he had sexually harassed them in 2014 and 2021. The 75-year-old then left the police station. The allegations are shocking.

A set designer accuses the actor of sexually assaulting her and tormenting her with offensive remarks while filming the movie "Les volets verts" by director Jean Becker in 2021.

"Brutally grabbed"
According to agency reports, Depardieu "brutally grabbed" her and "groped her waist, stomach and breasts".

French media write that the actor wrapped his thighs around her like a crab and told her: "I'm going to stick my big parasol in your pussy." A bodyguard finally intervened and was able to pull Depardieu off the woman. 

The other complaint comes from a woman who wishes to remain anonymous. She was 24 years old when, according to her, Depardieu harassed her with "obscene remarks" during filming and groped her.

Gerard Depardieu is in custody at this police station.(Bild: APA/AFP/Antonin UTZ)

Constant messing around
"We had to listen to his smut from morning to night," actress Anouk Grimberg, who appeared in the film, recently confirmed the accusations to AFP. "When producers hire Depardieu, they know he's an aggressor," she added, also taking aim at those who apparently let Depardieu do it for his fame.

For years, women have repeatedly come forward to accuse Depardieu ("Cyrano of Bergerac", "Asterix and Obelix") of sexual violence, and around 20 women have now accused the actor of assault and harassment in the media or before the courts.

In 2018, actress Charlotte Arnould filed a lawsuit against him. The case has been under investigation for rape since 2020. Depardieu completely denies the allegations. In a letter published in the newspaper "Le Figaro" in the autumn, he describes himself as the victim of a "media lynch law". French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly backed the actor on several occasions and referred to the presumption of innocence.

Women "big sluts"
The award-winning actor, who has starred in more than 200 films, also caused outrage with comments he made in a television documentary broadcast in December about his trip to North Korea in 2018. In it, he repeatedly made misogynistic and questionable comments, referring to women as "big sluts", for example.

The Minister of Culture at the time, Rima Abdul-Malak, decided to examine whether Depardieu should be stripped of his Legion of Honor. This did not happen in the end. The actor had received the highest French award in 1996. Depardieu lost the National Order of Quebec and his title as an honorary citizen of the Belgian municipality of Estaimpuis. The Paris Wax Museum had his figure removed.

Party with Helmut Werner
Despite the many accusations, Depardieu was invited by artist manager Helmut Werner to his 40th birthday in March 2024. The 75-year-old came to Austria with his girlfriend.