French film star Gérard Depardieu has declared his retirement from acting as he faces s*xual assault charges that could result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
The 76-year-old made his announcement while being cross-examined on the second day of his criminal trial at the Paris Correctional Court on Tuesday, March 25.
In his statement, Depardieu referenced the late French singer Monique Serf, known by her stage name Barbara, and expressed his discomfort with modern societal changes, attributing his predicament to feminism. “I’m very comfortable with Barbara’s songs, but I’m much less so in this new society,” he said. The actor, celebrated for his roles in classics like The Last Metro and Green Card, added, “I think my time is up,” and went on to declare, “Cinema is no longer for me. There comes a time when you have to stop, and I’m stopping.”
During the proceedings, he was being questioned by Claude Vincent, the defense attorney for a 34-year-old assistant producer identified only as Sarah. Along with a set designer named Amélie, aged 54, Sarah has accused Depardieu of multiple s*xual assaults that occurred while filming The Green Shutters in 2021. For legal reasons, the women are not being referred to by their full names.
At one point, Depardieu was reprimanded by Vincent for calling her “Miss” instead of “Maître,” to which he retorted, “I didn’t hear the question, Miss, speak clearly!” After receiving pushback, he apologized, saying, “I defend freedom of speech, I defend femininity, but I’m not accustomed to having women in a form of hysteria asking for I don’t know what.”
He went on to state that he was too old and overweight to engage in s*xual assault and acknowledged that people have labeled him a “real creep.” He emphasized, “I’m not going to have fun at 76, or at 130 kilos,” and added, “I’m unhappy enough. I’m not going to touch anyone’s butt, not on a set or anywhere else.”
Depardieu also dismissed the idea of deriving pleasure from inappropriate actions, remarking, “I don’t see why I would enjoy groping a woman.” He claimed that allegations against him have made him a target, describing the experience of seeing “Depardieu rapist” posters in Marseille as particularly shocking.
However, Amélie testified that she felt trapped when Depardieu groped her and verbally abused her, stating that security had to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating further. Sarah reported experiencing molestation on three separate occasions, with Depardieu grabbing her buttocks and breasts.
Among those who have supported the allegations is actress Anouk Grinberg, 62, who also appeared in The Green Shutters.
The trial was adjourned in October, with Depardieu’s lawyer citing his serious health issues, including diabetes and a heart condition. He was first taken into police custody on April 29, last year, on allegations of s*xual assault, and is currently out on bail while facing potential prison time and a €75,000 (£62,000) fine.
Additionally, Depardieu is scheduled to stand trial later for the alleged r*pe of actress Charlotte Arnould, 29. Her decision to come forward has reportedly prompted around 15 other women to allege crimes against him, which could lead to further legal action. Last month, it was also disclosed that Depardieu is under criminal investigation for tax fraud and money laundering.
