After increasing allegations of sexual violence against Gérard Depardieu, more and more people are turning away from the acting star. Once at the top, he has now fallen just as low.
Gérard Depardieu also made it to the cinema Olympus with his short-tempered anger as the Count of Monte Cristo. Or the “Monstre sacré” (“holy monster”), as celebrated and revered cult figures are called in France. Now the actor, who turns 75 on December 27th, is at the center of a story that could have the title: The Fall of an Icon.
Several dozen artists have expressed their support in connection with rape allegations against French actor Gérard Depardieu. In an open letter in the daily newspaper “Le Figaro” they complained about “lynching” and a “disregard for the presumption of innocence.” Signatories include actress Charlotte Rampling and musician and former French first lady Carla Bruni.
The artists criticized the flood of hate that has poured over the award-winning actor. “If you attack Gérard Depardieu in this way, you are attacking art,” the letter said. France owes him a lot.
Depardieu has been under investigation since 2020 because of the rape allegation. Another lawsuit against him for sexual abuse has been pending since mid-September. The incident is said to have occurred in 2007.
Several women have accused the well-known actor, who has appeared in over 200 films, of, among other things, sexual violence. Depardieu completely denies the allegations. In a documentary about his trip to North Korea in 2018 that aired in early December, Depardieu repeatedly made misogynistic and vulgar comments, for which he received sharp criticism.
Depardieu denies the allegations of sexual violence
For years, women have repeatedly come forward to accuse Depardieu of sexual violence. In 2018, actress Charlotte Arnould sued him. This case has been under investigation since 2020. He is said to have offended Arnould twice.
Depardieu completely denies the allegations. In a letter published in the newspaper “Le Figaro” at the beginning of October, he describes himself as the victim of a “media lynching.” In it he wrote that Arnould had voluntarily gone to his room with him.
Ex-wife supports Depardieu
The women who support him unconditionally include the director Josée Dayan and his ex-wife Elisabeth Depardieu, who doesn’t believe in the stories for a second, as she said in the television report.
The television report that caused horror is entitled “La chute de l’ogre” – “The Case of the Wolverine”. Depardieu is considered insatiable, vulgar and provocative. His self-indulgence and impulsive nature are known and feared. There are enough difficult topics: alcohol problems, drunk driving, tax evasion, the peeing affair on an airplane, his love for Russia, whose ruler Vladimir Putin he calls his friend.
Danton, Balzac or Obelix
With his primal energy and explosive emotionality, Depardieu has embodied almost every role that cinema can offer: daredevil, pimp, poet, rebel, vagabond, hedonist. He explodes the screen with his presence – whether as Danton, Balzac or Obelix.
Many of his films are classics of cinema: “The Savvy”, “Cyrano of Bergerac”, “The Last Metro” and “Green Card – A Fake Marriage with Obstacles”. Others – for example “Disco” or “Bouquet final” – are forgotten. In his over 40-year screen career, he has appeared in more than 200 films. There were years when he appeared in at least four films.
Depardieu has written about his life in several books, especially about his childhood and youth in Châteauroux in central France. He didn’t sugarcoat anything. Accordingly, his father was an alcoholic and could hardly write. His mother had to care for the six children. He himself suffered from speech disorders. Instead of going to school, he stole.
Projects with Depardieu are put on hold
Since the increasing allegations of sexual violence, more and more people are turning away from him. He was last seen in the comedy “Umami”, in which he played a top chef in May 2023. Depardieu was supposed to lend his voice to the animated film “La plus précieuse des marchandises” by Michel Hazanavicius. However, by mutual agreement both of them decided not to cooperate, as Depardieu’s agent, Bertrand de Labbey, confirmed to the newspaper “Liberation”.
France Télévisions, France’s public television company, is also distancing itself from him. His cinema director Manuel Alduy explained that they would review broadcast plans with Depardieu and put all projects with him on hold for the time being.
The Belgian counterpart RTBF has made a similar decision. Films with Depardieu in the title role will be temporarily withdrawn, the television company announced. However, programs in which his appearance is more “reduced” will continue to be broadcast. The (self-)dismantling of a cult figure is in full swing.