Rape allegations
“He’s working, I’m trying to survive”: Gérard Depardieu’s alleged victim comments
Actor Gérard Depardieu denies the rape allegations
© Briquet-Hahn / ABACA / Picture Alliance
The French judiciary has been investigating actor Gérard Depardieu for a year on charges of rape. Now his alleged victim is going public.
Gérard Depardieu doesn’t just hit the headlines as an actor. In his native France, the 72-year-old is being investigated on suspicion of rape. Now the alleged victim has spoken out for the first time and revealed his identity. It’s about the French actress Charlotte Arnould. The 25-year-old has filed a lawsuit against Depardieu.
“I was welcomed by Gérard in August 2018 Depardieu raped, “wrote Arnould on Twitter on Friday.” To keep silent would be to have me buried alive, “she added.” I haven’t had a normal life for three years, “wrote Arnould. She can no longer bear it. To live “in secret.” “He’s working, I’m trying to survive,” she remarked.
Gérard Depardieu is said to have abused Arnould in 2018
The French judiciary has been investigating Depardieu for a year, who denies the allegations. The investigation was opened on suspicion of rape and sexual assault. The applicant’s identity was initially unknown.
The young actress and dancer accuses the 72-year-old of having sexually abused her twice in his Paris apartment in August 2018. She filed a complaint in the same month, but the investigation was closed in June 2019.
The Paris public prosecutor said at the time that there were no indications of possible offenses by Depardieu. In August 2020, Arnould filed a tougher lawsuit and the investigation was transferred to an examining magistrate.
Depardieu’s lawyer Hervé Temime did not want to comment on the alleged rape victim’s statement. Depardieu has already been heard in the course of the investigation. According to information from the judiciary, he has applied for the proceedings to be terminated. A decision has not yet been made on this application.