PARIS — In a landmark decision for France’s #MeToo reckoning, a Paris court on Tuesday convicted acclaimed French actor Gérard Depardieu of sexually assaulting two women on a film set, sentencing the 76-year-old star to an 18-month suspended prison term. The court’s decision marks the most high-profile conviction linked to the movement in France, where cultural resistance to #MeToo has long delayed such legal outcomes.
Presiding Judge Thierry Donard sharply criticized Depardieu’s lack of remorse, stating that the veteran actor “does not seem to have grasped either the concept of consent or the traumatic impact of his behavior toward the women he assaulted.” The court also ordered Depardieu to be listed in the national sex offender registry.
Depardieu, who has denied all wrongdoing, did not attend Tuesday’s hearing. His legal team confirmed he intends to appeal the ruling. Known globally for his roles in Green Card, The Last Metro, and Cyrano de Bergerac, Depardieu has long been a towering presence in French and international cinema, appearing in more than 200 films over five decades.
His trial, however, stripped away the sheen of celebrity, placing his conduct under intense legal and public scrutiny. It also served as a pivotal moment in France’s evolving cultural confrontation with sexual violence, where #MeToo has often struggled to gain the momentum seen in the United States and elsewhere.
One of the plaintiffs, 54-year-old set decorator Amelie K., testified that Depardieu physically groped her on set in 2021. According to her account, he trapped her between his legs, touched her inappropriately, and made explicit remarks, all while laughing.
“I was terrified,” she said in court, describing a scene of humiliation and fear during what was supposed to be a routine day on set.
Depardieu argued in his defense that placing a hand on someone’s buttocks did not constitute sexual assault, and dismissed the allegations by suggesting that some women were “too easily shocked.”
That assertion was rejected outright by the court. Judge Donard emphasized that Depardieu showed no understanding of the harm he inflicted, both physically and psychologically.
The verdict arrives amid growing public awareness and legal attention to sexual misconduct in the French film industry. Depardieu has become a flashpoint in national debates over power, celebrity, and accountability. Though over a dozen women have accused the actor of inappropriate or violent sexual behavior, many have not filed formal complaints.
One high-profile case still pending involves actress Charlotte Arnould, 29, who accused Depardieu of rape in a separate incident. Prosecutors have indicated that he may face another trial related to those allegations.
In a defiant open letter published in Le Figaro in October 2023, Depardieu maintained his innocence: “Never, absolutely never, have I abused a woman,” he wrote.
The conviction has revealed deep cultural divides in France. During the early stages of the investigation, more than 50 prominent French figures, including Carla Bruni—former first lady and wife of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy—denounced what they called the “lynching” of Depardieu. Legendary actress Brigitte Bardot added fuel to the controversy, telling BFM TV that “those who have talent and grope a girl get thrown into the gutter.”
Still, women’s rights activists celebrated Tuesday’s verdict as a turning point. Advocates pointed to broader social change following cases like that of Gisèle Pelicot, whose ex-husband was convicted last year of drugging and orchestrating the rape of his wife by dozens of men.
Standing outside the courtroom after the decision, Amelie K. expressed a sense of relief and vindication. “It’s truly a victory and a step forward,” she told reporters. “We’re making progress.”
While Depardieu’s legacy in cinema is unlikely to be erased, the ruling ensures that his name will also be etched into the history of France’s long-delayed #MeToo moment—one in which powerful men in the cultural elite are finally being held accountable under the law.
