**Gerard Depardieu Found Guilty of Sexual Assault, Receives Suspended Sentence**
French actor Gerard Depardieu has been convicted of sexually assaulting two women and has been given an 18-month suspended sentence. The 76-year-old actor was found guilty by a Paris court for groping the women during the production of the 2021 film “Les Volets Verts” (The Green Shutters), where both victims held behind-the-scenes roles.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Depardieu was fined €29,040 (approximately £24,000), and the court mandated his registration in the national sex offender database. His lawyer, Jeremie Assous, announced that Depardieu, who denied the allegations and did not attend the hearing, plans to appeal the ruling.
The victims expressed their fear of speaking out at the time, feeling intimidated by the actor. One of the women, a set designer named Amelie, recounted how Depardieu had cornered her in a corridor and assaulted her. “He terrified me – he looked like a madman,” she stated in court.
Despite the allegations, Depardieu had received support from various figures in the film industry, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who previously praised him as “the pride of France.” However, the victims described how he initially used vulgar language before physically assaulting them, making crude sexual advances.
Judge Thierry Donard found Depardieu’s explanations unconvincing and contradictory. Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, the lawyer for victim Amelie, highlighted that Depardieu specifically targeted women without high profiles, asserting that he would not have behaved similarly towards a well-known actress. “He is strong with the weak, and weak with the strong,” she remarked.
Following the verdict, Durrieu-Diebolt declared it a victory not only for the two women involved but for all women, emphasizing the hope that this case marks the end of impunity for artists in the film industry. As the Cannes Film Festival commences, she urged the film community to remember the victims of Gerard Depardieu.
**FAQ**
*What was Gerard Depardieu convicted of?*
Gerard Depardieu was convicted of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of “Les Volets Verts” and received an 18-month suspended sentence along with a fine.