French actor Gerard Depardieu has denied s3xual violation claims leveled against him by two former female film crew members, Amelie K., a set decorator, and Engela W., an assistant director.
Both Amelia K and Engela W accused the 76-year-old famous French actor of inappropriate s3xual behavior during the filming of The Green Shutters in the year 2021.
At the Paris criminal court, where he is being tried for the two alleged assaults, the veteran actor entered a guilty plea to grabbing a woman’s hips, but he denied any s3xual assault charges against him.
Depardieu, who is also well-known for his roles in The Last Metro and Cyrano de Bergerac, acknowledged making physical contact with Amelie K. during the court hearing, but he maintained that it was an accident.
“I grabbed her hips so as not to slip,” he told the court. “I weigh 150 kg! I couldn’t even trap someone between my legs if I tried.”
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In a related development, Depardieu has declared his intention to withdraw from performing in motion pictures due to his s3x assault allegations, which carry a maximum five-year jail sentence.
In the dock on Tuesday, March 25, during cross-examination on the second day of his criminal trial at the Paris Correctional Court, he made the announcement while mentioning the late French singer Monique Serf, who went by the stage name Barbara.
‘‘I’m very comfortable with Barbara’s songs, but I’m much less so in this new society,’ said Depardieu, who made his name in classic movies such as The Last Metro and Green Card.
‘‘I think my time is up,’ he added, in the low, husky voice that made him famous to tens of millions, while appearing in around 250 films.
‘‘Cinema is no longer for me. There comes a time when you have to stop, and I’m stopping”, he added.
