French actor Gerard Depardieu’s habits towards girls got here beneath renewed scrutiny in France after a documentary confirmed him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures throughout a 2018 journey to North Korea.
The footage, filmed by an expert crew that coated Depardieu’s go to throughout the seventieth anniversary of North Korea’s formation, was included in an investigative documentary that aired Thursday on nationwide TV channel France 2. It had by no means been proven earlier than to the general public. Some excerpts shortly went viral on the social media.
Depardieu, 74, is amongst France’s most well-known stars. He was put beneath investigation in December 2020 for rape and sexual assault, reportedly at his Paris house, following allegations from actor Charlotte Arnould in 2018. The investigation is ongoing.
Depardieu has denied any felony conduct.
In the video recorded in North Korea by an unnamed video manufacturing firm, Depardieu may be seen making groaning sounds and sexual feedback in entrance of girls, together with a couple of 10-year previous lady. He can be seen posing for a photograph whereas saying he was “touching the bottom” of a North Korean interpreter by his aspect.
The documentary additionally options French comic Helene Darras, who accused Depardieu of touching her backside when she was a younger further for the 2008 movie “Disco.” The Paris prosecutor’s workplace stated Thursday that Darras filed a grievance towards Depardieu in September for alleged sexual assault.
In a short cellphone name with the journalists who labored on the documentary, Depardieu stated, “This whole thing is deeply bothering me” and declined an interview supply.
He printed an open letter in French newspaper Le Figaro newspaper in October that stated, “I want to tell you the truth. I have never, ever abused a woman.”
About Arnould’s rape accusation, Depardieu wrote, “There has never been any coercion, violence or protest.”
“All my life, I’ve been provocative, outgoing, sometimes rude. … I never meant to do any harm, and I apologize for behaving like a child trying to entertain the crowd. But I’m not a rapist nor a predator,” he stated within the open letter.
Film director Fabien Onteniente, who labored with Depardieu on “Disco,” stated in a Friday interview with French broadcaster France Info that he didn’t witness any misconduct by the actor on the time. However, he stated he “saw something” a number of years later whereas making one other movie with Depardieu.
“So I had a private conversation with him. I told him that it’s inadmissible.” Onteniente stated. The director didn’t give any particulars concerning the alleged misbehavior however stated he determined to not do any extra initiatives with Depardieu.
Film director Marc Missonier says within the documentary that he had beforehand heard concerning the “inappropriate attitude” of Depardieu.
“We can say that the French cinema world didn’t ignore the problematic behavior of Gerard Depardieu,” he stated, including that the actor’s “status” as a world-famous star had as soon as protected him.
French investigative news web site Mediapart earlier this 12 months printed info saying that Depardieu has been accused of harassing, groping or sexually assaulting 13 younger girls.
The France 2 documentary claims the variety of accusers now stands at 16.
French girls’s activism group Osez le feminisme, or Dare Feminism, denounced “rape culture” and expressed its assist to Arnould and others girls affected by Depardieu’s alleged misconduct. The group, which makes use of the hashtag #balancetonporc, which in English roughly interprets to “squeal on your pig”, has broadly been considered as serving to to create France’s model of the #MeToo motion.
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