PARIS (AP) 鈥� A criminal court in Paris on Monday postponed French actor G茅rard Depardieu's trial on charges of sexually assaulting two women on a film set because of concerns about his health, shifting the start of the proceedings to March.
Depardieu, who has denied any wrongdoing, is accused of using 鈥渧iolence, coercion, surprise or threat鈥� in the alleged sexual assaults that prosecutors say took place in 2021 on the set of
The court also ordered an expert to assess the 75-year-old actor's health issues. Depardieu鈥檚 lawyer J茅r茅mie Assous requested the postponement, saying that the actor has heart trouble and diabetes-related issues.
Assous said that doctors decided the actor was not well enough to attend the proceedings even though he was eager to appear in court.
鈥淗e is anxious to defend himself, because for over three years, a huge number of inaccuracies, false information and lies have been systematically disseminated and relayed,鈥� Assous told The Associated Press. 鈥淣ow, finally, we鈥檙e going to be able to have the word of the defense."
Lawyers for both women also argued in favor of the postponement, saying that their clients want to hear Depardieu鈥檚 explanations.
Prosecutors say that in both cases, women reported that the actor trapped them between his legs and groped their buttocks, genitals, chest and breasts over their clothes.
Outside the courtroom, one of the plaintiffs, a 53-year-old production designer, said 鈥渋t was extremely difficult to listen to all this violence,鈥� after hearing Depardieu's lawyer defending his client. 鈥淗e questioned everything 鈥� There were a lot of lies, about almost everything actually."
The Associated Press doesn鈥檛 generally identify victims of sexual assault without their consent.
Feminist activists protest outside the court
France continues to reckon with sexual violence in the wake of the #MeToo movement that initially struggled to find traction, especially .
Depardieu 鈥渋s a coward,鈥� French actor Anouk Grinberg told the AP outside the courtroom. Grinberg, who played in 鈥漈he Green Shutters," said she showed up to court 鈥渂ecause I can鈥檛 take it anymore... And the impunity, it鈥檚 got to stop, society can鈥檛 allow it鈥�.
About 100 people gathered outside the court on Monday, some holding signs, responding to a call from several feminist groups to show support for victims of sexual violence. Some activists made their way into the courtroom and sat among other members of the general public attending the hearings.
Blanche Sabbah, a women鈥檚 rights activist, said 鈥渨e鈥檙e here even though G茅rard Depardieu will not show up." The plaintiffs "have shown up. They鈥檙e here and I am here to support them. That鈥檚 why all of these feminists are here.鈥�
Prosecutors say there were witnesses on the film set
According to Paris prosecutors, the production designer told investigators that Depardieu had earlier made sexual remarks and then one day, as she walked past him, he 鈥済rabbed her, pulled her toward him, blocked her with his legs, and groped her waist, hips and chest, accompanying his gestures with obscene remarks.鈥�
Prosecutors said three people witnessed it, and that the woman made an attempt to break away from Depardieu鈥檚 grip and seemed 鈥渟hocked.鈥� A psychiatrist examined her and granted her a seven-day leave, they said.
After the incident, it was arranged for Depardieu to apologize. But in a TV interview that aired Saturday, the woman said the actor was furious and blamed her for causing trouble. Prosecutors said witnesses confirmed that what Depardieu had said did not constitute an apology.
In the interview with French online news site Mediapart, the production designer 鈥� who spoke on camera but only gave her first name 鈥� said the incident had taken a toll on her personal and professional life for at least 18 months. She said she could not sleep well, suffered anxiety attacks and lost weight.
The month before the incident, another woman working on the film set had complained about Depardieu, prosecutors said.
A director鈥檚 assistant told investigators that Depardieu had touched her buttocks on several occasions. She said she had expressed her disapproval and in return Depardieu had been insulting toward her. She was also given a six-day leave by a psychiatrist.
Members of the film industry back Depardieu
Many have come out in support of Depardieu, , who later about not having spoken about the importance for victims to speak out.
Late last year, 56 French performers, writers and producers published an essay , saying that when 鈥淕茅rard Depardieu is targeted this way, it is the art (of cinema) that is being attacked.鈥�
Their call came just weeks after national broadcaster France 2 put out by 16 women against Depardieu, and showed the actor making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea.
In the footage, Depardieu can be seen making groaning sounds and sexual comments in front of women, including a girl about 10 years old who is riding a horse. He can also be seen posing for a photo, saying he was 鈥渢ouching the bottom鈥� of a North Korean interpreter by his side.
Depardieu was charged in 2020 with rape and sexual assault
In an open letter, Depardieu said last year, 鈥淚 have never, ever abused a woman.鈥�
The actor was long seen as a national icon in France. He has been a global ambassador for French film and enjoyed international fame with several roles in Hollywood.
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AP Journalists Nicolas Garriga and Marine Lesprit contributed to the story.
Diane Jeantet And Sylvie Corbet, The Associated Press
