The Head of State insisted on respect for the presumption of innocence and the legal procedure which targets the actor accused of rape and sexual assault.
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He greeted “a huge actor”. Asked about the case of Gérard Depardieu, Wednesday December 20, in “C à vous” on France 5, Emmanuel Macron insisted on the presumption of innocence in cases against the actor, accused of rape and sexual assault . “One thing you will never see me in is manhunts. I hate it.”replied the Head of State from the Elysée, where the program was exceptionally filmed.
Emmanuel Macron reacts to the Depardieu affair
Emmanuel Macron reacts to the Depardieu affair – (FRANCE 5)
For the President of the Republic, the Legion of Honor, of which he is the Grand Master of the order, “is not here to preach”. The Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, had nevertheless announced on France 5 that a “disciplinary procedure” would be initiated by the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honor against the film star.
The head of state also affirmed that Gérard Depardieu “made France, our great authors, our great characters known throughout the world”. “He makes France proud”, continued Emmanuel Macron, once again taking the opposite view from his minister. Rima Abdul Malak had in fact estimated that the actor’s comments reported in the magazine “Complément d’investigation” made “shame on France”.
Three rape complaints
A French national icon in the same way as Alain Delon or Brigitte Bardot, known throughout the world, Gérard Depardieu has long seemed to benefit from a certain indulgence. And this, even after his indictment for rape, in 2020, following a complaint from an actress then aged around twenty, Charlotte Arnould – facts which he refutes.
The broadcast at the beginning of December of a report from the program “Complément d’investigation” on the television channel France 2 caused a new shock wave. We see this figure of French cinema multiplying misogynistic and insulting remarks while addressing women, not even sparing a little girl with his obscene remarks.
At the same time, a second complaint for sexual assault was filed by actress Hélène Darras, for apparently prescribed facts dating back to 2007 on a set. The actor also denies these accusations. He is also the subject of a third complaint for rape in Spain.