On Tuesday, May 13, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Gérard Depardieu to 18 months in prison, suspended, for sexually assaulting two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts, directed by Jean Becker, in 2021.
The 76-year-old actor, who was not present at the hearing, was found guilty of assaulting a 54-year-old set designer and a 34-year-old assistant director. Through his lawyer, Depardieu announced his intention to appeal the ruling.
The court concluded that the accusations were “fully substantiated,” citing witness accounts described as “consistent, repeated, and coherent,” and backed by medical reports. By contrast, Depardieu reportedly changed his version of events multiple times, which the court interpreted as an attempt to adapt to the shifting course of the proceedings.
The presiding judge emphasized that the actor appeared neither to understand the concept of consent nor to grasp the impact of his actions on the victims. The sentence took into account Depardieu’s age, health condition, and behavior during the trial, in which he continued to deny the allegations.
In addition to the suspended prison term, Depardieu was handed a two-year ban from holding public office and will be listed in the national registry of sex offenders. His lawyer, Hervé Temime, sharply criticized the ruling, stating, “Today, being accused of sexual assault is enough to be automatically convicted.”