Latest news with #Depardieu
New European
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New European
How to stop rape culture
There is one thing you may have missed, however. It doesn't seem like much on the surface: a mere 1,000 euro fine, which Depardieu must now pay to each of the defendants. It was barely mentioned in most stories about the trial. That was a mistake, given what that fine represented. You have almost certainly heard of the court case that made the headlines in France for several years, concerning actor Gerard Depardieu. You probably even know that, last week, he was found guilty of sexually harassing two women on the set of a movie, and given a suspended jail term of 18 months. Depardieu was, on top of everything else, found guilty of 'secondary victimisation', a relatively new legal concept. It first appeared in 2014, and was written into what became the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty aiming to oppose violence against women. Behind it is the belief that survivors of sexual violence often get harmed twice; first by their abuser, then by a sexist, biased, needlessly aggressive justice system. Gisele Pelicot famously spoke of it last year, saying that she had been left feeling 'humiliated' by court proceedings, despite being the victim and not the perpetrator. Back at the Depardieu trial, the actor's barrister called his client's two victims 'hysterical', and told them, point blank, that 'we don't believe you'. 'I can understand that Amelie doesn't read [broadsheet] Le Monde as it's too complicated, but she could at least read [gossip magazine] Closer', he said of one of them. Speaking to the press later, Amelie called the trial 'torture', and 'even more violent than the assault itself'. Sadly, this sn't an isolated issue, or one confined to France. In 2021, the European Court of Human Rights intervened in the aftermath of a case in Italy, where a young woman was raped by seven men in a parking lot. In its judgement, the Florence Court of Appeal called the victim 'uninhibited, vulgar, lascivious', and mentioned her 'ambivalent attitude towards sex'. The ECHR found that the comments were 'guilt-inducing, moralising and conveyed sexist stereotypes', and recognised the case as one of 'secondary victimisation'. That both this case and Depardieu's were recognised for what they were is unalloyed good news, but ought to only be the beginning. In France, Italy, Britain and elsewhere, pundits keep wondering why survivors of sexual assault struggle to come forward. The answer, sadly, is often hiding in plain sight: it is unlikely that the perpetrator will be found guilty and, even if they are, the cost demanded of the victim for putting them behind bars is far too high. Suggested Reading Welcome home to Gilead Matthew d'Ancona The rate of PTSD for victims of sexual violence is higher than for soldiers who have spent time in warzones. We should, as a society, make sure that these survivors aren't being traumatised further when choosing to do the right thing, and try to make sure that an abuser will be taken off the streets. As things stand, however, misogyny still leaks through every pore of every justice system around the world. Any woman deemed not to be the perfect victim, pure as snow and without a single flaw, will be treated as inherently suspicious. It apparently doesn't matter that false accusations of rape are so rare they're practically non-existent: the assumption somehow always seems to be that the woman is, in some way, in the wrong. Of course, making more courts and barristers aware and afraid of the concept of secondary victimisation won't solve everything, but it does feel like one hell of a step in the right direction. It is also encouraging that it was mentioned in a court case as high-profile as Depardieu's, as it has given much of the French press a reason to discuss it. The more people know about it, the better. This is also why this column exists: rape culture will not be destroyed in one go, but must instead be dealt a thousand blows, one after the next. The British justice system doesn't currently recognise secondary victimisation, but the country did sign up to the Istanbul Convention in 2022. I can't offer much more than words, but justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has it in her power to spring into action. Let's hope she kept an eye on that Depardieu trial.
Euronews
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Gérard Depardieu facing trial in Rome for allegedly punching paparazzo
Following his guilty sentence in a Paris court for sexually assaulting two women during the film shoot in 2021 of Les Volets Verts, disgraced French actor Gérard Depardieu is facing a trial in Rome after allegedly punching a paparazzo. The case is due to begin at a court in Rome on 17 June. Depardieu, 76, is charged with causing personal injury to the Italian photographer Rino Barillari. He is accused of punching 'the king of paparazzi' as he is known in Italy outside Harry's Bar on Via Veneto in May last year. Barillari, 80, went to the bar where Depardieu was eating with a friend, Magda Vavrusova. Barillari claims that Depardieu insulted him and Italians in general, threw an ice cube at him, and punched him three times. This caused Barillari to fall to the ground. 'I can forgive his punches, but not the insult against Italians,' Barillari told the Italian news agency Adnkronos on Tuesday. Depardieu has denied the claims, telling La Repubblica that Barillari had pushed him. Delphine Meillet, a lawyer for Vavrusova, said her client had been 'violently pushed' by Barillari and that Depardieu 'fell and slid' on to the paparazzo.
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
What Depardieu's conviction and Cannes' response means for #MeToo in France
PARIS (AP) — For powerful men in France's film industry, this was a week of reckoning. Gérard Depardieu — the country's most famous male actor — was convicted of sexual assault. Two days later, the Cannes Film Festival barred another actor accused of rape from walking the red carpet. Together, the decisions sent a message that France had long resisted: that artistic brilliance may no longer shield those who abuse their power. For decades, Depardieu was revered as French cinema's 'sacred monster' — a towering talent whose gluttony, volatility and magnetism became part of his myth. With more than 250 films to his name, many believed he would remain untouchable even after more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct . Now, that myth has cracked. The verdict has revived a broader question France has ducked since the dawn of the #MeToo movement: Can a country that celebrates seduction and irreverence finally hold its male icons to account ? France has long lived its own #MeToo contradiction. That talent, charm, or intellect forgives misconduct. That the art excuses the artist. This is the land that gave the world Brigitte Bardot's pout and Catherine Deneuve's poise — and then watched both recoil when the movement came knocking. Deneuve has defended 'the right' to seduce , while Bardot has dismissed feminism outright: 'I like men.' But the ground is shifting. Cannes' seismic shift Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence on Tuesday for groping two women on a 2021 film set. He denies the charges and is appealing. 'It's the end of impunity of artists with a capital A,' Carine Durrieu Diebolt, a lawyer for one of the two women who won their case against Depardieu, told The Associated Press. The verdict represented 'a bookend for putting actors on a pedestal because they were talented,' she added. Two days later, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival barred actor Théo Navarro-Mussy — accused of rape by three former partners — from attending the premiere of the movie 'Case 137,' which he stars in, even though the file was dropped for lack of evidence. The women are launching a civil complaint. Navarro-Mussy denies wrongdoing. His lawyer said that she's unaware of any ongoing proceedings against him. Dominik Moll, the movie's director, said he supported the move. 'It was the proper decision,' he told the AP. 'Out of respect for the women, the plaintiffs.' Yet what stunned wasn't just the decision, but who made it. Cannes director Thierry Frémaux had long been seen as emblematic of the old guard. He defended Roman Polanski for years and continued to screen his films despite the director's 1977 guilty plea in the U.S. for sex with a 13-year-old. In 2018, when asked why Cannes still included Polanski, Frémaux said: 'These are complicated matters.' Frémaux opened 2023's festival with a film starring Johnny Depp , despite the actor's highly public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard over allegations of domestic abuse, in which he was never criminally charged. When asked about the backlash, Frémaux replied: 'I only have one rule: it's the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework.' This week, the rules changed. 'The Cannes decision is of course linked to the Depardieu verdict,' said Céline Piques of Osez le féminisme ('Dare Feminism!'), a group that campaigns against sexual violence. '(They've) realized which way the wind is blowing. Frémaux is trying to right the wrongs.' Resistance remains Not everyone welcomed the verdict — or what followed — as a cultural turning point. Fanny Ardant, one of French cinema's grandes dames and a longtime friend of Depardieu, sat on his side in court . She is now directing him in a film in Portugal, despite the conviction. 'Fanny Ardant? She completely missed the point,' said Piques. 'She downplayed the violence, normalized it. That's rape culture, plain and simple.' Juliette Binoche, Cannes jury president and one of France's most respected actors, struck a note of restraint: 'He's not a monster. He's a man — one who has, apparently, been desacralized.' A justice system slowly opening In 2024, more than 22,000 rapes were reported in France. Fewer than 3% led to convictions. 'The Depardieu verdict shows there's progress,' said lawyer Anne-Sophie Laguens, who works with victims of sexual assault. 'But for most women, the barriers to justice remain enormous.' When Bertrand Cantat — front man of Noir Désir and once one of France's bestselling rock singers — launched a 2018 comeback tour, he had served just four years in prison for killing his partner, actor Marie Trintignant, during a violent assault. Despite public outrage, he returned to the stage and performed. 'That would be unthinkable today,' said Piques. 'The public mood has changed. What we tolerate has changed.' The shift in shame One breakthrough came not from a film set, but a courtroom in Avignon. The conviction of 51 men for drugging and raping Gisele Pelicot — who chose to waive her anonymity and insisted on a public trial, turning private horror into public reckoning — marked a turning point. For years, shame was hers. Now, it belongs to the perpetrators. 'It proved rapists aren't just strangers in alleys,' said Piques. 'They're husbands. Colleagues. Respected men.' That shift in shame is now rippling through the cultural world — once seen as a bastion of male privilege. Director Christophe Ruggia was recently convicted of abusing actor Adèle Haenel when she was a minor, though he is appealing; and actor-director Nicolas Bedos, was sentenced for sexual assault. Is this a victory for #MeToo? Slowly but surely, yes. The system that long protected men like Depardieu is not yet dismantled, but it is shifting. As one of the actor's accusers said through tears after the ruling: 'I'm very, very much satisfied with the decision. That's a victory for me, really. And a big progress, a step forward. I feel justice was made.' __ Associated Press journalist Louise Dixon in Cannes, France contributed to this report
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
Depardieu convicted. Cannes reacts. But did #MeToo finally win in France?
PARIS -- For powerful men in France's film industry, this was a week of reckoning. Gérard Depardieu — the country's most famous actor — was convicted of sexual assault. Two days later, the Cannes Film Festival barred another actor accused of rape from walking the red carpet. Together, the decisions sent a message France had long resisted: that artistic brilliance may no longer shield those who abuse their power. For decades, Depardieu was revered as French cinema's 'sacred monster' — a towering talent whose gluttony, volatility, and magnetism became part of his myth. With more than 250 films to his name, many believed he would remain untouchable even after more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct. Now, that myth has cracked. The verdict has revived a broader question France has ducked since the dawn of #MeToo: Can a country that celebrates seduction and irreverence finally hold its male icons to account? France has long lived its own #MeToo contradiction with a long-held belief in 'l'exception culturelle.' That talent, charm, or intellect forgives misconduct and the art excuses the artist. Catherine Deneuve has defended 'the freedom to bother," while Brigitte Bardot has dismissed feminism outright: 'Feminism isn't my thing. I like men.' But the ground is shifting — fast. Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence Tuesday for groping two women on a 2021 film set. He denies the charges and is appealing. 'It's the end of impunity of artists with a capital A,' Carine Durrieu Diebolt, a lawyer for one of the two women who won their case against Depardieu, told The Associated Press. The verdict represented 'a bookend for putting actors on a pedestal because they were talented,' she added. Two days later, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival barred actor Théo Navarro-Mussy — accused of rape by three former partners — from attending the premiere of a film he stars in. Though the file was dropped for lack of evidence, the women are relaunching their case as a civil complaint. Navarro-Mussy denies wrongdoing. His lawyer said she's unaware of any ongoing proceedings against him. What stunned wasn't just the decision, but who made it. Cannes director Thierry Frémaux had long been seen as emblematic of the old guard. He defended Roman Polanski for years and continued to screen his films despite the director's 1977 guilty plea in the U.S. for sex with a 13-year-old. In 2018, when asked why Cannes still included Polanski, Frémaux said: 'These are complicated matters.' Frémaux opened 2023's festival with a film starring Johnny Depp, despite the actor's highly public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard over allegations of domestic abuse, in which he was never criminally charged. When asked about the backlash, Frémaux replied: 'I only have one rule: it's the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework.' This week, the rules changed. 'The Cannes decision is of course linked to the Depardieu verdict,' said Céline Piques of Osez le féminisme ('Dare Feminism!'), a group that campaigns against sexual violence. '(They've) realized which way the wind is blowing. Frémaux is trying to right the wrongs.' Not everyone welcomed the verdict — or what followed — as a cultural turning point. Fanny Ardant, one of French cinema's grandes dames and a longtime friend of Depardieu, sat on his side in court. She is now directing him in a film in Portugal, despite the conviction. 'Fanny Ardant? She completely missed the point,' said Piques. 'She downplayed the violence, normalized it. That's rape culture, plain and simple.' Juliette Binoche, Cannes jury president and one of France's most respected actresses, struck a note of restraint: 'He's not a monster. He's a man — one who has, apparently, been desacralized.' In 2024, more than 22,000 rapes were reported in France. Fewer than 3% led to convictions. 'The Depardieu verdict shows there's progress,' said lawyer Anne-Sophie Laguens, who works with victims of sexual assault. 'But for most women, the barriers to justice remain enormous.' When Bertrand Cantat — frontman of Noir Désir and once one of France's bestselling rock singers — launched a 2018 comeback tour, he had served just four years in prison for killing his partner, actress Marie Trintignant, during a violent assault. Despite public outrage, he returned to the stage and performed. 'That would be unthinkable today,' said Piques. 'The public mood has changed. What we tolerate has changed.' One breakthrough came not in cinema, but in a Bordeaux courtroom. The conviction of 51 men for drugging and raping Gisele Pelicot — a case long ignored despite her pleas — marked a turning point. For years, shame was hers. Now, it belongs to the perpetrators. 'It proved rapists aren't just strangers in alleys,' said Piques. 'They're husbands. Colleagues. Respected men.' Other recent convictions in entertainment included director Christophe Ruggia, who was convicted of abusing actress Adèle Haenel when she was a minor, though he is appealing; and actor-director Nicolas Bedos, who was sentenced for sexual assault. Slowly but surely, yes. The system that long protected men like Depardieu is not yet dismantled, but it is shifting. As one of the actor's accusers said through tears after the ruling: 'I'm very, very much satisfied with the decision. That's a victory for me, really. And a big progress, a step forward. I feel justice was made.'
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
With Depardieu, has the #MeToo movement finally won in France?
PARIS (AP) — For powerful men in France's film industry, this was a week of reckoning. Gérard Depardieu — the country's most famous male actor — was convicted of sexual assault. Two days later, the Cannes Film Festival barred another actor accused of rape from walking the red carpet. Together, the decisions sent a message that France had long resisted: that artistic brilliance may no longer shield those who abuse their power. For decades, Depardieu was revered as French cinema's 'sacred monster' — a towering talent whose gluttony, volatility and magnetism became part of his myth. With more than 250 films to his name, many believed he would remain untouchable even after more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct . Now, that myth has cracked. The verdict has revived a broader question France has ducked since the dawn of #MeToo: Can a country that celebrates seduction and irreverence finally hold its male icons to account ? France has long lived its own #MeToo contradiction. That talent, charm, or intellect forgives misconduct. That the art excuses the artist. This is the land that gave the world Brigitte Bardot's pout and Catherine Deneuve's poise — and then watched both recoil when the movement came knocking. Deneuve has defended 'the right' to seduce , while Bardot has dismissed feminism outright: 'I like men.' But the ground is shifting — fast. Cannes' seismic shift Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence Tuesday for groping two women on a 2021 film set. He denies the charges and is appealing. 'It's the end of impunity of artists with a capital A,' Carine Durrieu Diebolt, a lawyer for one of the two women who won their case against Depardieu, told The Associated Press. The verdict represented 'a bookend for putting actors on a pedestal because they were talented,' she added. Two days later, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival barred actor Théo Navarro-Mussy — accused of rape by three former partners — from attending the premiere of a film he stars in, even though the file was dropped for lack of evidence. The women are launching a civil complaint. Navarro-Mussy denies wrongdoing. His lawyer said that she's unaware of any ongoing proceedings against him. What stunned wasn't just the decision, but who made it. Cannes director Thierry Frémaux had long been seen as emblematic of the old guard. He defended Roman Polanski for years and continued to screen his films despite the director's 1977 guilty plea in the U.S. for sex with a 13-year-old. In 2018, when asked why Cannes still included Polanski, Frémaux said: 'These are complicated matters.' Frémaux opened 2023's festival with a film starring Johnny Depp , despite the actor's highly public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard over allegations of domestic abuse, in which he was never criminally charged. When asked about the backlash, Frémaux replied: 'I only have one rule: it's the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework.' This week, the rules changed. 'The Cannes decision is of course linked to the Depardieu verdict,' said Céline Piques of Osez le féminisme ('Dare Feminism!'), a group that campaigns against sexual violence. '(They've) realized which way the wind is blowing. Frémaux is trying to right the wrongs.' Resistance remains Not everyone welcomed the verdict — or what followed — as a cultural turning point. Fanny Ardant, one of French cinema's grandes dames and a longtime friend of Depardieu, sat on his side in court . She is now directing him in a film in Portugal, despite the conviction. 'Fanny Ardant? She completely missed the point,' said Piques. 'She downplayed the violence, normalized it. That's rape culture, plain and simple.' Juliette Binoche, Cannes jury president and one of France's most respected actors, struck a note of restraint: 'He's not a monster. He's a man — one who has, apparently, been desacralized.' Her caution captured something deeper: a country caught between the urge to change and the instinct to protect its giants. A justice system slowly opening In 2024, more than 22,000 rapes were reported in France. Fewer than 3% led to convictions. 'The Depardieu verdict shows there's progress,' said lawyer Anne-Sophie Laguens, who works with victims of sexual assault. 'But for most women, the barriers to justice remain enormous.' When Bertrand Cantat — front man of Noir Désir and once one of France's bestselling rock singers — launched a 2018 comeback tour, he had served just four years in prison for killing his partner, actor Marie Trintignant, during a violent assault. Despite public outrage, he returned to the stage and performed. 'That would be unthinkable today,' said Piques. 'The public mood has changed. What we tolerate has changed.' The shift in shame One breakthrough came not from a film set, but an Avignon courtroom. The conviction of 51 men for drugging and raping Gisele Pelicot — a case long ignored despite her pleas — marked a turning point. For years, shame was hers. Now, it belongs to the perpetrators. 'It proved rapists aren't just strangers in alleys,' said Piques. 'They're husbands. Colleagues. Respected men.' That shift in shame is now rippling through the cultural world — once seen as a bastion of male privilege. Recently. director Christophe Ruggia was convicted of abusing actor Adèle Haenel when she was a minor, though he is appealing; and actor-director Nicolas Bedos, was sentenced for sexual assault. So did #MeToo win? Slowly but surely, yes. The system that long protected men like Depardieu is not yet dismantled, but it is shifting. As one of the actor's accusers said through tears after the ruling: 'I'm very, very much satisfied with the decision. That's a victory for me, really. And a big progress, a step forward. I feel justice was made.'
