France is bracing for a potentially explosive moment in its cultural history as the long-awaited verdict in the sexual assault trial of Gérard Depardieu, the country’s most internationally recognised actor, is expected in the coming days.
The 75-year-old star of Cyrano de Bergerac, Green Card, and countless French cinematic classics stands accused of sexually assaulting actress Charlotte Arnould during a private rehearsal session in his Parisian apartment in 2018. The case has divided French public opinion, stirred fierce debate in artistic circles, and cast a long shadow over one of the last great icons of European cinema.
Depardieu, whose baritone voice, hulking frame and decades-spanning career have made him a household name from Bordeaux to Beijing, has strenuously denied the accusations, insisting that “no violence, no coercion, nor aggression of any kind” took place. He was initially placed under formal investigation in December 2020 after a previous case was dropped for lack of evidence, only to be reopened following Arnould’s decision to speak out publicly.
“I needed the world to know the truth,” Arnould, a professional ballet dancer and actress, said in a searing television interview last year. “This is not just about one man, however powerful. It’s about the right of women in this industry to say ‘no’ and be heard.”
The trial, held at the Palais de Justice in central Paris, has gripped the nation with its high-profile witnesses, emotional testimony, and broader questions about accountability in the French arts scene. The prosecution alleges that Depardieu used his status and influence to intimidate and sexually violate Arnould during what was purportedly a rehearsal for a stage project.
Lawyers for the actor argued that the encounters were consensual and part of an ambiguous relationship between two adults in an intimate setting. Depardieu has refused to appear in court for several key hearings, citing poor health and media harassment, prompting criticism from feminist activists and legal observers alike.
“He has shown no remorse, no willingness to face his accuser in a court of law,” said Clémence de Montjoye, a spokesperson for Osez le Féminisme, one of France’s most prominent women’s rights organisations. “If a man of his fame can ignore due process so casually, what message does that send to the thousands of anonymous victims out there?”
Depardieu’s defence team, however, has painted a very different picture. “This is a rush to judgement driven by political correctness and trial by media,” said his lawyer, Hervé Témime. “Mr Depardieu is not merely a defendant; he is a scapegoat in an era where nuance and presumption of innocence have all but disappeared.”
Indeed, the trial has exposed deep fractures within France’s cultural elite. Some actors and directors have expressed solidarity with Arnould and other women who have come forward with allegations against Depardieu — including several who anonymously claimed inappropriate behaviour spanning decades. Others have urged caution, warning against retroactive condemnation without concrete proof.
Veteran actress Fanny Ardant, a close friend of Depardieu, came to his defence earlier this year, saying: “Gérard is passionate, unruly, perhaps a relic of another era — but I cannot believe he is capable of what they accuse him of.” Her comments, echoed by others in the industry, sparked a backlash from feminists who argue that romanticising Depardieu’s “larger-than-life” persona only serves to excuse alleged abuse.
The case also comes at a time when France is undergoing a slow but visible reckoning with sexual violence, especially in its artistic institutions. The rise of the #MeToo movement — initially slow to take root in the French cultural soil — has since brought down several prominent figures, including director Luc Besson and former TV presenter Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, both of whom deny wrongdoing but have faced mounting public scrutiny.
For many, the Depardieu verdict will be a watershed moment: a test of whether France’s justice system can hold even the most revered cultural giants to account. If convicted, Depardieu could face up to five years in prison and a fine, though any sentence would likely take into account his age and health.
But beyond the legal outcome, the trial has already left a lasting mark on the French psyche. For some, it has shattered the comforting illusion that genius and artistic greatness can somehow be separated from personal conduct. For others, it has reinforced the need to protect reputations from what they view as overzealous campaigns of character assassination.
As the judges prepare to deliver their ruling, the nation watches with a mixture of anticipation, apprehension and introspection. Whether Gérard Depardieu walks free or is convicted, the verdict will resonate far beyond the courtroom — in theatres, in homes, and in the fraught cultural conversation now unfolding across France.
Main Image: By Siebbi – cropped version of ipernity.com, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14734442
