Actor Claims Any Crude Comments Were Due to Frustration and Bad Mood as He Faces Sexual Assault Charges
Gérard Depardieu, the 76-year-old French actor, has acknowledged in court that he grabbed the hips of Amelie K, a set decorator who accuses him of sexual assault, but insisted that this physical contact was not an assault. Depardieu further claimed that any offensive comments he may have made were the result of his bad mood, not directed at her personally.
This is the first time Depardieu has stood trial for such allegations, despite facing multiple accusations in recent years. On Tuesday, he admitted to grabbing Amelie K’s hips during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021, but explained that his actions were motivated by frustration with her performance and the stressful working conditions. He stated that he grabbed her to prevent himself from slipping, as he was exhausted from the heat and the long hours of shooting.
“I don’t see why I would grope a woman,” Depardieu told the court, arguing that his physical size at the time would have made some of the alleged actions, such as trapping Amelie K between his legs, physically impossible.
The accusations against Depardieu stem from a filming session in which he allegedly touched Amelie K inappropriately, making crude remarks while groping her waist, hips, breasts, and genitals. Three witnesses claim to have seen the incident. Depardieu denied any intentional harm, suggesting that his comments were related to her work, not directed at her as an individual.
If convicted, Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 (£63,000) fine. The trial, which began on Monday, had been delayed due to the actor’s health issues.
In addition to the accusations from Amelie K, Depardieu is also facing claims from another woman, whose identity has not been revealed, who alleges that she was also groped by him both on the film set and in the street. This trial has garnered significant attention as it is one of the highest-profile #MeToo cases in France’s media industry.
