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French actor Gerard Depardieu has been accused of sexual assault by 13 additional women, according to investigative website Mediapart. The 74-year-old star, who rose to fame in France before becoming a Hollywood sensation with the 1990 film "Green Card," denies all allegations through his lawyers.
The prosecutor's office confirmed that while they have not received any new complaints, their ongoing investigation into the rape allegations made by actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018 continues
.Accusations Spanning Two Decades
Mediapart reported on Tuesday that 13 women have come forward with allegations against Depardieu, accusing him of abuse while on the set of 11 films or TV series produced between 2004 and 2022, as well as in other locations off set.
The allegations range from inappropriate touching to obscene remarks and persistent grunting. According to Mediapart, even when the abuse occurred in front of witnesses on set, the crew often dismissed the complaints as being part of the actor's behavior.
Charlotte Arnould filed her lawsuit in the summer of 2018 when she was 22 years old, claiming that Depardieu had raped her twice in his Paris villa several days prior. The actor, who was a friend of the Arnould family, was charged in December 2020 but was not incarcerated.
Although none of the 13 newly accused women have filed official complaints, three have testified before the judiciary. One of the women stated that she broke her silence to support Arnould and to shed light on the issue of sexual misconduct in the film industry.
Incidents on Set
One of the women who testified recounted out her experience working as an extra on the 2015 film "Big House." She stated that Depardieu abruptly put his hand up her dress and attempted to touch her underwear.
After pushing him away, she claimed that he became aggressive and tried to touch her inappropriately. According to a member of the production team, the shoot for the film "The Box" was temporarily paused after the extra reported the incident.
The scene was eventually modified so that the extra was no longer standing next to Depardieu. An actor who worked on the film reported hearing Depardieu shout that he could have anyone he wanted and insult the extra as a "fat pig."
Controversial Remarks from 1991
In 1991, Time magazine asked Depardieu about a 1978 interview he gave to Film Comment in which he mentioned his difficult childhood and claimed to have been involved in "too many [rapes] to count." When asked if he participated in the rapes, Depardieu initially confirmed but later denied the remarks and threatened to sue the magazine.
Time refused to retract the excerpt, stating that the interview was recorded. The recent allegations against Gerard Depardieu add to the growing list of accusations made against prominent individuals in the entertainment industry.
The ongoing investigation and testimony of these women serve as a reminder of the importance of holding those in positions of power accountable for their actions.
